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  • Reflections on World Book Day

    Reflections on World Book Day

    On World Book Day, Head of Coram Beanstalk Amy Lewis reflects on the mission of the World Book Day charity, 'the reading for fun charity'. Read more

  • Why having a Coram Beanstalk reading helper is a gift for teachers

    Why having a Coram Beanstalk reading helper is a gift for teachers

    Ex-teacher and Coram Beanstalk training and resources manager, Rebecca, shares why having Coram Beanstalk reading helpers in your school can be a gift for teachers. Read more

  • Reflections on World Book Day
  • Why having a Coram Beanstalk reading helper is a gift for teachers
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Blogs

Reflections on World Book Day

Reflections on World Book Day

On World Book Day, Head of Coram Beanstalk Amy Lewis reflects on the mission of the World Book Day charity, 'the reading for fun charity'. Read more

Published: 4th March, 2026

Author: Amy Lewis

Why having a Coram Beanstalk reading helper is a gift for teachers

Why having a Coram Beanstalk reading helper is a gift for teachers

Ex-teacher and Coram Beanstalk training and resources manager, Rebecca, shares why having Coram Beanstalk reading helpers in your school can be a gift for teachers. Read more

Published: 27th January, 2025

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Author: Rebecca Pedelty-Cox

6 ways graphic novels encourage reading for pleasure

6 ways graphic novels encourage reading for pleasure

Our friends at Parrot Street Book Club generously give us a 50p donation for every book they ship to their subscribers. Here, Emily Bright and Sarah Campbell, founders of the book subscription service for children, have written about the 6 ways in which graphic novels can encourage reading for pleasure! Read more

Published: 27th March, 2024

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Welcome to a new year with Coram Beanstalk

Welcome to a new year with Coram Beanstalk

Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk, welcomes in a new year... Read more

Published: 2nd January, 2024

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Author: Amy Lewis

'Focus on the child, not their reading age!'

'Focus on the child, not their reading age!'

At Coram Beanstalk we're often asked how best to support children in specific year groups and sometimes we can find ourselves becoming overly concerned by a child’s reading age or ability and what level books they “should” be reading. Our Learning and Development Manager, Rebecca Pedelty-cox helps unpick the idea of a 'reading age'. Read more

Published: 23rd October, 2023

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Reading is the bedrock of knowledge and that’s why I work as a reading helper at a primary school in Birmingham.

Reading is the bedrock of knowledge and that’s why I work as a reading helper at a primary school in Birmingham.

Dr Bharti Parmar couldn't read until she was seven years old. Here she tells us how the reasons for that have shaped her volunteering role with us... Read more

Published: 6th June, 2022

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

As a retired teacher with dyslexia I knew immediately I had to be involved!

As a retired teacher with dyslexia I knew immediately I had to be involved!

One of our recently trained reading helpers talks about why she chose to join our Coram Beanstalk reading community... Read more

Published: 10th May, 2022

Updated: 8th June, 2022

Tell a Fairy Tale Day with some very special storytellers!

Tell a Fairy Tale Day with some very special storytellers!

Four very special children's author friends of ours each tell their favourite traditional fairy tale to celebrate Tell a Fairy Tale Day! Listen to Pippa Goodhart, Abi Elphinstone, Claire Fayers and Marianne McShane tell you a story here... Read more

Published: 26th February, 2022

Updated: 24th October, 2023

Giving the gift of reading is more than just giving a book

Giving the gift of reading is more than just giving a book

Giving the gift of reading is so much more than ‘just’ giving a child a book.  When we give a child a reason to read that book, when we help them to discover for themselves the value and pleasure that reading can bring, and give them free rein to explore books in their own way.... those children become readers with all of the benefits that brings! Read more

Published: 14th February, 2022

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Growing into myself with a book

Growing into myself with a book

Do you have a memory of a time when you suddenly felt very grown up and that, quite possibly, something you'd chosen to read played a part in giving you that feeling of independence and perhaps contributed to you growing more fully into yourself? Hear from children's author Ross Montgomery who talks of just such an experience! Read more

Published: 20th January, 2022

Updated: 11th May, 2022

A reading helper's response to 'Why a joke book is more than just a stocking filler

A reading helper's response to 'Why a joke book is more than just a stocking filler"

Reading helper Michael Dillon talks about his experience of using joke books, in response to Gill Worrall's blog "Why a joke book is more than just a stocking filler." Read more

Published: 13th January, 2022

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Being more open-minded about science fiction

Being more open-minded about science fiction

Science fiction - do you love it or hate it? And if you're not a fan, does that mean you're less likely to share a science fiction book with your child? Gill Worrall our resources developer explores how exploring all sorts of genres with children is important - regardless of our own preferences. Read more

Published: 3rd January, 2022

Updated: 23rd July, 2025

Author: Gill Worrall

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Latest

  • June 2026

    June 2026

    This month, we’re hosting our next Virtual Author Event for Coram Beanstalk schools with award‑winning author Ben Davis! We’ve chosen his latest book, Postman Planet, as our Book of the Month for June and we've found a range of other Beanstalk Brilliant books featuring post or letters for you to explore...

  • Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE

    Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE

    Michael joined Coram Beanstalk as an Ambassador in November 2017 and continues to be an advocate for our work creating readers for pleasure.

  • Liz Pichon

    Liz Pichon

    Hugely popular author and illustrator, Liz Pichon, is best known for her award-winning series Tom Gates and became a Coram Beanstalk Ambassador in 2017.

  • May 2026

    May 2026

    This month Coram Beanstalk has collaborated with the Federation of Children's Book Groups (FCBG) to celebrate National Share a Story Month (NSSM). Our chosen Book of the Month from the FCBG curated list of books for NSSM is 'I am Rebel' by our author supporter, and past reading helper, Ross Montgomery. Read more...

Most read

  • Apply to volunteer

    Apply to volunteer

    Ready to take the first step to becoming a reading helper? Check that you can meet some basic practicalities and fill in our application form here.

  • Frequently asked questions

    Frequently asked questions

    You may have some questions in your mind before you fill in your application form. Here are answers to our most commonly asked questions. If your question isn't answered here you can find out how to get in touch with our team.

  • Where we work

    Where we work

    Coram Beanstalk offers different programmes across the UK. Find out where we work here.

  • The benefits of being a reading helper

    The benefits of being a reading helper

    We know from our volunteers that being a reading helper brings purpose and enjoyment into their lives. Find out more about the benefits of being part of our reading community here.

  • Our approach

    Our approach

    Find out more about how we work and our approach to reading support.

  • Thank you for applying to be a Coram Beanstalk reading helper

  • Literacy charities join forces

    Literacy charities join forces

    On 1st November 2017 Reading Matters merged with the national children’s literacy charity Beanstalk.

  • Current vacancies

    Current vacancies

    Click here to view our current vacancies.

  • Volunteer agreement

    Volunteer agreement

    Our volunteers represent the charity in the partner schools that we work with. It is a formal role with commitments and expectations from us and you. These are set out in our volunteer agreement and role description here.

  • Training and support

    Training and support

    We know our approach to reading works and love to share this with our volunteers to help them start sessions with confidence, and continue to learn as they get to know the children. Find out how here.

  • Follow our story

  • Become part of a community passionate about reading for pleasure and wellbeing and keep up to date with everything we’re working on.

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Copyright © 2026 Coram Beanstalk. Coram Beanstalk,
Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ.

  • Coram Beanstalk is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

  • Registered Charity No. 296454 (England and Wales).

  • Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 2101719.

  • All images are from Coram Beanstalk’s stock image library and are for representation only.

  • Names in case studies have been changed to protect identities. All rights reserved.

Coram Beanstalk is proud to be a lead delivery partner for The National Year of Reading 2026! 
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