Volunteers Wanted

We are looking for volunteers to work with families in Thamesmead.

 

Aimed at families with children aged 2 - 5 years old, volunteer Literacy Champions will empower parents to support their child’s literacy skills through activities such as reading, singing, nursery rhymes, drawing and crafts.

 

The Early Words Together literacy project, led by Trust Thamesmead in partnership with National Literacy Trust and Save the Children, is part of the Peabody Group’s drive to improve literacy during a child’s first years of development which can have a significant impact on increasing cognitive abilities and language skills later in life.

 

Volunteers will also be trained to identify any additional support families may need. For example employment, training, financial and wellbeing advice or signposting them to the appropriate service providers in Thamesmead.

 

Veronica Kirwan, Director of Community Programmes at Peabody said: “The Early Words Together literacy programme empowers parents to support their child’s early literacy development. It also supports families and helps build volunteer capacity and skills in the local community.”

Volunteers will receive full training from the National Literacy Trust and can select accredited training from a menu of available subjects as part of the offer. They will also receive on-going support from Trust Thamesmead for the duration of their volunteering role.

Around one in four London children leave primary school with a lower than average reading ability, which can have a major impact on their long term life changes.

Potential volunteers should contact Trust Thamesmead’s Community Development Outreach Worker (Volunteering), Sarah Feleppa, T: 020 8320 4490 or E: [email protected]