Our training programmes

Foster Carer Training

Short, engaging, evidence-based courses that show foster carers how to run one-to-one reading sessions with children to help them engage with reading for pleasure. Available for foster carers supporting children from Early Years through to Year 7. Read more

Reading Helper Training (Early Years)

Help parent volunteers to be ready to share the wonderful world of words, stories and reading with children aged 3 to 5 through this short, engaging course from Coram Beanstalk Training. Read more

Reading Helper Training (Years 1 to 4)

Help make parent volunteers who support reading with Years 1 to 4 children have a bigger impact through this short, engaging course from Coram Beanstalk Training. Read more

Reading Helper Training (Years 5 to 7)

Help parent volunteers who support reading with Years 5 to 7 children to develop confident readers through this short, engaging course from Coram Beanstalk Training. Read more

Special Offer - Reading Helper Training

SPECIAL OFFER: Book all three of our Reading Helper Training courses (Early Years, Years 1 to 4 and Years 5 to 7) get 20% off the total, or book two of the courses and get 10% off the total! Read more

Latest

Back to school for thousands of volunteers to help boost reading confidence and enjoyment

Thousands of trained volunteers will go back to school this September to help bring the magic of books to more children across England, supporting them on a one-to-one basis to become confident and able readers.

From 'The Twits' to 'I am Malala'

For Mandy, being a reading helper has presented moments of pride, happiness and achievement, but with some challenges along the way...

DHL UK Foundation and Coram Beanstalk

H is for Harry – and thoughts on literacy, libraries and laureates

Story Starter Anne Thompson shares her review of the powerful documentary 'H is for Harry' - a film about a boy and his struggle with literacy.

Reading 321

Become a Coram Beanstalk Reading 321 reading helper and support three children, twice a week, for at least one academic year.

Become a Story Starter

By becoming a Story Starter volunteer you will give a child in a local early years setting the skills to start primary school ready to read.

Where we work

Coram Beanstalk offers different programmes across the UK. Find out where our main volunteering opportunities are here.

What to expect

Find out more about what's involved as a Coram Beanstalk trained reading helper and the life-changing impact you can have!

Frequently asked questions

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions by new volunteers.

Why volunteer

Become a Coram Beanstalk reading helper to make a lasting difference to a child's life and enjoy a unique volunteering experience.

What we do

Find out more about how we provide one-to-one reading support.

How we can help

Find out more about our approach to improving your pupils' reading ability and confidence.

Thank you for applying to be a Beanstalk reading helper

Stories from our reading helpers

Hear from some of our current volunteers about why they love being a Coram Beanstalk reading helper so much!