31 May 2018

Beanstalk is launching its first crowdfunding campaign to generate support for projects which will focus on helping primary school children in England’s worst performing local authorities for reading. The charity hopes to raise £50,000 over a four week period to fund projects that will focus on areas, such as Doncaster, Ipswich, Hastings, Northampton, Blackpool and Bradford, where children are most in need of support.

Beanstalk is a national charity which supports children who have fallen behind with their reading by recruiting, training and placing volunteers to work one-to-one with pupils in primary schools across England. Once trained, volunteers support three children one-to-one at a local school twice a week for 30 minutes each at a time. The sessions are engaging, interactive and hugely beneficial to the children receiving extra support and are often a turning point for struggling and reluctant readers.

Recent research by the National Literacy Trust revealed that children born into communities with serious literacy challenges have some of the lowest life expectancies in England. 

Beanstalk’s Chief Executive Officer Ginny Lunn said: “The statistics today on childhood illiteracy in this country are unacceptable and more needs to be done to give children in literacy ‘cold spots’ a better chance to achieve positive educational outcomes. That is why support for this campaign is so important and will help us ensure more children are leaving primary school equipped with the vital skills they need to thrive in all aspects of their education and go on to lead successful and fulfilling adult lives. No child should be left at a disadvantage in life because of where they live or what their background is. By extending our reach to more children in areas where it is most needed we will give them more opportunities to succeed.”

To pledge support for Beanstalk’s crowdfunding campaign please visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/readgrowthrivewithbeanstalk