READING SUPPORT FROM CORAM

expected level. When children fall behind in reading by the age of 11, the effects can last a lifetime. 70% of pupils permanently excluded from school have difficulties with basic literacy. Falling behind can also have a huge impact on children’s wellbeing, leaving them feeling isolated and eroding their self-esteem. Coram Beanstalk’s work is vital in providing children with one-to-one attention from a trusted adult, helping them fall in love with books, re-engage with learning and build essential life skills.

Back in 1739, Thomas Coram established The Foundling Hospital, and its founding ethos to look after the wellbeing of children is still going strong today, with Coram a vibrant charity group of specialist organisations, who collectively support hundreds of thousands of children and young people nationwide every year.

Coram provides free legal support for children and young people who need it, runs an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ adoption agency bringing together adoptive families and children waiting, and enables children to fulfil their potential through its education programmes.

One of these education programmes, Coram Beanstalk, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a visit from its royal patron Queen Camilla. Coram Beanstalk provides one-to-one reading support through trained volunteers to children aged three to 13 years. To date, the charity has helped over 250,000 children to build their reading ability, confidence and enjoyment, enabling them to thrive into adulthood.

This work has never been more needed. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on children’s education, with one in four children leaving primary school unable to read at the

Carol Homden, CEO of Coram says: “We have been committed to ensuring that all children have the love, education and opportunity they need for life since Thomas Coram founded the charity to support children abandoned on the streets of London. Coram Beanstalk was the first to help schools to create readers with the support of trained volunteers and the need for its work is as pressing as ever as we support children to catch up on the learning lost during the school closures of the pandemic”

Coram Beanstalk is always in need of more volunteers to support children with their reading. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering opportunities and other ways you can support Coram, visit coram.org.uk.