Literacy Pirates volunteering

The Literacy Pirates is an enterprising charity working to develop the literacy, confidence and perseverance of young people.

Opportunity to develop the following Common Good Attributes:

• Active and global citizenship
• Responsible leadership
• Confidence

What’s involved?

You will be working under the guidance of a Session Leader (Teacher) who will run the session. Volunteer Crewmates will be supporting our young people with their reading and writing. During the reading part of the session, you will be reading with Young People, asking questions about the text and helping them understand and enjoy reading. During writing, you will be encouraging your Young Pirates to be as creative as they can be, writing stories/poems/film scripts and getting them as good as they can be.

No experience working with children is necessary – just lots of enthusiasm! Full training is provided.

How will participating in this activity/opportunity allow students to make a positive difference in the communities that we serve?

The pandemic has increased the number of children falling behind in school, and the gap between richer and poorer students’ educational outcomes has grown across the UK. That means that many more children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to achieve a pass in GCSE English and maths in the coming years, damaging their chances of reaching their full potential. You will be making a positive difference in the community by helping to deliver our impactful programme and supporting young people who have fallen behind at school. The extra adult attention you are willing to give them is incredibly valuable and will help them improve their literacy, confidence and perseverance so they can succeed at school and beyond.

What are the benefits of taking part in this activity/opportunity for participating students?

Aside from having a meaningful impact on children’s lives, you will develop your communication, leadership and interpersonal skills. It is a great opportunity to gain experience in the education sector and working with young people. You will also be entitled to a basic reference after 6 volunteering sessions and a full reference after 12 sessions. Our volunteers also have the chance to generate rewards for themselves!

Success stories

"I’ve seen immense improvement... she takes more interest in reading and with writing also… and her confidence, it has boosted her confidence when she does it." – Young Pirate parent

"It doesn’t matter how long I take to read the book, no one can judge me just because I’m in a lower group or I need help with writing and reading." – Young Pirate

"I think it’s really effective. I really notice. This year I teach three students we’ve referred. I’ve noticed a change in their confidence. They are now more articulate when contributing in class." – teacher from a partner school