Make someone laugh challenge

How do you find out how to make someone laugh? We have collated a selection of brilliant reading materials that might give you some ideas and we can't wait to see clips of your family laughing - ask your grown-ups to tag us on Twitter @beanstalkreads @joshuaseigal.

Poet Joshua Seigal has a challenge for you - watch his video to find out more. Read more

Dog Training for Kids

Can you find out how to train your dog to perform tricks and make your family laugh? Read more

You Can Take Amazing Photos

Can you make everyone laugh by taking some clever photos and writing some funny captions? Read more

Fun Hand Shadows for Kids

Can you find out how to make your family laugh with weird and wonderful hand shadows? Read more

You're Joking!

Can you find out how to make up and deliver your own jokes? Read more

How to be an Unstoppably Amazing Comedy Genius

Can you find out how to perform stand-up comedy and make everyone laugh? Read more

Latest

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...
Coram Beanstalk publishes Impact Report for 2021-22

After two years of disrupted service in schools, Coram Beanstalk are delighted to publish their latest Impact Report for the year 2021 - 2022. Read stories from across the Coram Beanstalk community of children, schools and volunteers - and see our latest impact statistics.
May 2022

Our #BeanstalkBrilliant book of the month for May is 'Song for a Whale' by Lynne Kelly. This year 2nd - 8th May is Children's Book Week and Deaf Awareness Week so we thought we'd highlight some Beanstalk Brilliant Books featuring characters who may have experienced hearing loss or who wear hearing aids.
Win books for your school library!

Coram Beanstalk, The Alligator's Mouth Book Shop and The Bright Agency are offering schools the opportunity to win a set of the ten books longlisted for The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2022, which champions both authors and illustrators of highly illustrated children’s fiction. Nominate a UK-based school to win a set of the ten longlisted books for their school library here...

Become a volunteer reading helper

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

Find out more about how we work and our approach to reading support.
Thank you for applying to be a Beanstalk reading helper
Literacy charities join forces

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

Our early years programme offers a unique approach to equipping adults in your setting to help children develop all six crucial pre-reading skills plus the communication, concentration and confidence they need to ‘catch the reading bug’. Read more about how our unique programme Story Starters can help you ensure that children start their primary education ready to be taught to read.
Current vacancies

Click here to view our current vacancies.
Volunteer agreement

Find out more about how we will do the best we can to make your volunteer experience with us enjoyable and rewarding.
Our Trustees

Our Board of Trustees hold decades worth of high-level experience which they use to govern Coram Beanstalk and direct our strategy.