A Volunteer's Story
Time to Read
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I have been with Northgate for 13 years during which time I have had several different job roles, and I am currently the Sales Manager for Education. This is my fourth year volunteering on the 'Time to Read' programme at King's Park Primary School in Newtownabbey. I have worked in other volunteering programmes for other schools, and I loved every one I have taken part in. So when I was approached by Business in the Community to take part in 'Time to Read', I jumped at the chance! |
In the past year, Northgate has expanded its involvement in volunteering in our local schools, and it now has many volunteers in both 'Time to Read' and in 'Time to Compute'. We recently brought 19 pupils from King's Park PS and Whitehouse PS into our offices to let the children see where their volunteers work. We all had a really good morning, and the children were excited to see the various parts of the business. I have also been involved in recruiting volunteers within Northgate, where I talked about my experience with 'Time to Read'. I find it difficult to put into words the joy of working with these children; some are so shy while others are not, but to see the development of their personalities along with an improvement in their reading ability and to know you have been a part of that development is really amazing and incredibly fulfilling. The stories they tell would fill you with joy! The only downside I have discovered when volunteering is leaving them for the summer or when they finish the programme and you no longer get to work with them. I believe the children feel the same way. I find it is always good to remember that if you volunteer on one of these programmes, you will be helping the children to develop and will be giving them a great start for their next steps in life. Kim Colman |
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For the last 8 years, I have been a Time to Read Volunteer at Ballysillan Primary School. We visit the school every Wednesday for two hours and thoroughly enjoy our time with the children. I read with two P5 girls for half an hour each and have seen big changes in their reading and more so in their personality. They both started out shy and quiet but with each week have progressed into chatty, confident and lively girls. |
We have been welcomed into the school and invited to concerts, plays and much more. I really value my involvement in the programme and hope to volunteer for another 8 years. Jill McMullan, Royal Mail |
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I became involved with Time To Read eight years ago when Royal Mail was approached by Business in the Community seeking volunteers from local businesses to take part in this worthwhile scheme. Over the years, along with my colleagues Jill and Christine, we have experienced the pleasure of reading with, initially very quiet 8/9-year-old boys and girls, who after a few weeks develop into talkative, demonstrative young people. Along with their reading, they are eager to share their interests and hobbies, in one case an introduction to their pet guinea pigs! |  |
Our weekly one-to-one hourly sessions with the children at Ballysillan Primary School have become a very important part of our lives at Royal Mail. We get a great deal back from the children, and we hope we have helped in some small way to encourage and help them move on to their new school when the time comes. Jill Harvey, Royal Mail |
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Hello, my name is Terry Weir and I have been involved with Time to Read through Business in the Community for almost 4 years now, along with my colleague Joan. We go to Avoniel Primary School in Belfast every Thursday morning, and we have the same pupils each week, all from year 6. We were delighted when, just recently, a new volunteer joined us - Ciara from Citigroup - and this means we now support 6 children in Time to Read. |
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Joan and I work for Funeral Services N.I. - Joan is an Administrator and I am a Funeral Director. Our company is involved with Business in the Community and in 2005 a notice went out asking for volunteers to participate in the Time to Read scheme. Coming from a publishing background and an avid reader I was quick to put my name forward and as a result Joan and I were selected - the rest is history. Each Thursday morning during the half hour with each pupil we mainly read however, we also do crosswords, word searches, word puzzles or hangman. Every week we list what we do and that is usually pinned up on our Time to Read notice board in the library. After every book completed I stick a 'Book Complete' sticker against each book listed. |
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I find that, by using these stickers, periodically throughout the year the children can look back and are quite often amazed at just how many books they have actually read. We also give out other stickers which I purchase very reasonably through www.primaryteaching.co.uk
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It is very rewarding to see the children develop their reading throughout the year, especially when you know they are enjoying it and enjoy the books. We have a special box in the library in which our Time to Read selection is stored. The children most times can rummage through the box to find one that appeals to them. Usually I read one page and the child reads the other. In this way, I find, they can grasp the story better without pressure to read everything. Joan and I always make it clear from the outset that we are not there to test them but rather to make reading fun. It is also very encouraging to us that the Principal Ian Gourley and his staff at Avoniel Primary are so enthusiastic about Time to Read. |
It has been an honour and privilege to be part of Time to Read and I would recommend and encourage anyone to participate. It has been a very rewarding experience for me and has given me an opportunity to do something totally outside the realms of my workplace.
Terry Weir, Funeral Services N.I.
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I have been employed by NIE for 20 years, and currently work for NIE Supply Business in Customer Relations. I have been volunteering on the 'Time to Read' programme since the pilot stage in 1999 at Star of the Sea Primary School in Belfast. I had always thought that I would like to teach but never pursued the dream so when BITC & NIE developed the idea of 'Time to Read' I was very keen to be involved. I would admit to some pre-school nerves when I first started but it didn't take long to settle into the volunteering role and I now feel like part of the furniture, able to switch off from the day-to-day stresses of work once I step into the school. |
Over the years I have made some great friends in the children that I have read with, and also with teachers at the school. 'Time to Read' is so much more than just reading. It has given me such a sense of achievement to see these shy, retiring girls blossom into confident young ladies. Those that stumbled over words, now able to at least attempt them; those that could not look you in the eye, now tripping over themselves to get to see you; those that were so quiet, now just a little louder with tales to tell that warm your heart.
The list is endless of things that have made me smile during 'Time to Read' with the only sadness when the girls move on to 'Big School'. I feel that through 'Time to Read' these girls have a small head start when entering the next chapter of learning as they have grown in confidence while being part of the programme. The impact that this 'one to one' reading partnership has is priceless and benefits all that are lucky enough to be involved.
| Pauline McCracken, Complaints Coordinator, Northern Ireland Electricity plc |
A Volunteer's Story:
My name is Heidi Nicolls, and I am the Business Development Manager for Schools within Texthelp Systems Ltd. I have been a 'Time to Read' volunteer with St Comgall's Primary School in Antrim since September 2007.
Through my role at Texthelp, I have developed a passion for enhancing independent and inclusive learning in the classroom. I believe that all students, regardless of their abilities, should become an integrated part of the learning community. The 'Time to Read' programme fosters this same belief; therefore, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to become a volunteer.
On joining the 'Time to Read' team in September 2007, I was introduced to two very different (but equally delightful) children in P5 at St Comgall's Primary School. The aim of this programme is to improve the children's literacy levels and to encourage them to work independently to achieve their goals and aspirations. Since September, I have witnessed not only improvements in their literacy levels, but their confidence and self-esteem have soared. Having the one-to-one attention certainly seems to be working wonders for 'my kids'.
The 'Time to' programmes are a great opportunity for businesses to give something back to their local community. The benefits not only extend to the children involved but also to the employees who become volunteers. The volunteer work is so rewarding, especially when you can witness, firsthand, the positive impact the programme has on the children involved. Long may it continue.
© Copyright BITC Northern Ireland, 2007.