As part of The Random House Group’s commitment to supporting literacy initiatives, we work in partnership with Volunteer Reading Help, a national charity which sends volunteers into schools to work with children aged 6-11 who find reading a challenge and need extra support and mentoring.   Currently, 25 of our staff volunteer once a week in schools in our local communities. They receive training and support throughout the year from VRH and all say what a worthwhile experience they feel it to be.

'I've been reading with Year 6 children at St Gabriel's school for 4 years now and find it a rewarding and enjoyable experience. It's great to get out of the office and do something completely different. The children are always very sweet and you really feel that the school appreciates the time you give.'
Kirsten, volunteer

Our partnerships with local schools develop over time: we recently hosted a very successful visit by local schoolchildren to our Vauxhall Bridge Road offices so that they could learn about publishing. Deputy Headteacher Angela Abrahams said of the visit:

'The children were so delighted to have been involved and chatted all the way back about the things they had learnt and of course about their gifts!  We have all learnt something today that we didn't know before.  I truly believe that relationships between readers and the children will be enhanced by the experience.'

(Photograph by Stefano Cagnoni, used with kind permission of Volunteer Reading Help)