Literacy Champions

The National Literacy Trust is the UK’s largest independent literacy charity, working to ensure that disadvantaged children in the UK have the literacy skills they need to succeed in education and in life.

About the project

Through the Literacy Champion's project, we want to address Peterborough’s significant literacy needs on a community level.

The National Literacy Trust has been active in Peterborough since 2014. The charity has worked with the LA, schools in the area, and created links with local partners who have supported literacy in Peterborough.

Literacy Champion's want to help improve literacy in their community. They could be a parent, business professional, teacher, student, sports coach or just passionate about making a difference in their local area. They can do this in many different ways depending on who they are and the communities they are living in and working with.

We have a dedicated Literacy Champion's Project Officer based in Peterborough to work with volunteers, and community-based partners to support the development of ideas that will help improve literacy across the district.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering as a Peterborough Literacy Champion is a great way to get involved and give something back to your community. You will get full training and develop new skills.

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It can help you to:

Gain confidence
Make a difference
Meet different kinds of people and make new friends
Be part of a community
Learn new skills
Take on a challenge
Have fun!

How will it work?

The Literacy Champion's programme will end in 2024 and we are looking for 30 volunteers to sign up.

We are looking for a diverse range of volunteers who will want to work on different ideas and initiatives across Peterborough.

Literacy Champion volunteers will attend a half day training session to give you practical ideas and inspiration. You will also get a resource pack to help with your ideas.

We will provide ongoing support to volunteers to help the idea develop and make sure it is practical and achievable. Towards the end of the project we will celebrate your achievements through events designed to share your great work and stories with others.

What do Literacy Champions do?

Literacy Champions will:

Work in your local community to develop ideas that help improve literacy. This could be with a school, community centre, library, children’s centre or elsewhere
Encourage the people you are working with to make reading part of their everyday lives and something they enjoy
Develop an idea for a literacy project that you think could make a difference in your community
Report back on what you do and how it is going

Some ideas we could help Literacy Champions develop include:

Setting up a reading group for adults or children
Helping parents visit a children centre for the first time by taking them along and making introductions
Getting friends or neighbours to sign up to the local library
Taking children from the neighbourhood to the library during the summer to help them complete the Summer Reading Challenge
Offering an information session in their home to family and neighbours
Organising a book swap in their local area
Planning a literacy-based outing (such as a shopping trip or a trip to the countryside)
Planning a local poetry session or competition for the community

Can I be a Literacy Champion?

Whether you have previous experience, or simply have an idea to try to see whether you can make a difference, we want to hear from you!

You can be a Literacy Champion if you:

Have some time to commit to the volunteer role- to fit around your life and commitments
Are keen to learn ways to help promote literacy in your community

How do I get involved?

If you are interested in becoming a Literacy Champion, please contact:

Emma Morton Literacy Champion Project Officer on: 07874637433

or email emma.morton@literacytrust.org.uk so we can discuss the project and your ideas further.