We have had 16 new schools show an interest in our service and are in the process of allocating volunteers into these schools, along with 13 existing schools that would like more volunteers placed with them! So if you do know of anyone who may be interested in joining us a volunteer, please encourage them to contact Lee-Ann by emailing abctoread@btconnect.com or calling 0118 951 1336.

Our Chief Officer, Marcia, held a volunteer Meet and Greet at the Hilton Hotel, Reading. This went very well and was a great opportunity for everyone to get together and meet other volunteers in an informal setting.

Marcia is currently working her way through the feedback received via this year’s volunteer questionnaire, which was put together with the aim of holding a training workshop towards the end of the year.

We have started to build a Fundraising and Events team in order to dedicate more time and diversify funding sources. We were fortunate enough to be selected by John Lewis, and their staff charity quiz night on 15 February raised £1,000 for ABC to read. We have also received a £1,000 grant from Berkshire Community Foundation to train volunteers in Slough; £500 from Englefield Charitable Trust; a £350 training bursary from RCVYS; and a £600 and £200 donation from Waitrose and Clarks respectively. Our thanks go out to those who help to fund our charity’s vital service. The World Book Day events, at Waterstones in Reading and Slough Library, gave us great publicity and enquiries from possible new volunteers.

Our next event takes place on 28 April when we have a match day presence at Reading FC’s Madejski Stadium from 11.30am to 1.30pm, in the Kids’ Zone. We will be holding a book and card stall, reading stories, giving out sweets and leaflets, and running a raffle.

More details can be found here: http://www.abctoread.org.uk/events/sponsored-walk-family-fun-day/

Set up a monthly donation to ABC to Read now.

Match funding up to £10/month.

Click to Donate

Voting for Neighbourhood Budgets has now opened and will close on 3 April 2013.

We applied for a grant of £2,000 to hold a short training course to introduce parents to ways to support their pre-school and primary school aged children to develop the right skills to enable them to learn to read. You can see our application here.

As only the top 3 charities will receive the grant, please vote for us. You can cast your vote via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KN53GQP

You can read the article here.

To vote for ABC to Read click here!

All you have to do is:

1) Like our Facebook page

2) Like this post

3) Share this post

The prize will be drawn if we reach 300 page likes.

The winner should be able to provide us a valid UK address.

Only the top 3 charities will receive the grant, please vote for us. You can cast your vote via the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PDS7FF2.

All you have to do is:

1) Like our Facebook page

2) Like this post

3) Share this post

The prize will be drawn if we reach 100 page likes.