Online Reading Volunteer

Doorstep Library is a community-focused charity dedicated to bringing the magic of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children who need our support.

We use books to fuel children’s natural love of stories, fire their imaginations, and encourage their appreciation of reading. Our unique home-based service means we are there in person or online, finding the most appropriate books for every child we visit and building a relationship with the whole family.

Our projects not only improve literacy and confidence in children but also increase family well-being and bonding through the joy of sharing stories. Our  reading volunteers encourage both parents and children to read for pleasure together from a young age, and this kind of tailored support enables us to help prepare children for school and also broaden their opportunities in life.

Doorstep Library Reading Volunteers visit the same families online over Zoom, every week with backpacks full of books and two little stools to share their love of reading with the children they visit. Our volunteers don’t just read stories though; they do silly voices, handpick the e-books, and give special recommendations for each child.

Through our long-term approach, our volunteers build trusting relationships with families, helping to connect them with the community and signposting to additional sources of local support. We are there to support children and families who need us most.

Doorstep Library is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and all those it comes into contact with. 

What skills do I need?

To become a Reading Volunteer you need to:

• Be able to make a regular weekly commitment during school term time of at least 9 months

• Be compliant with our safeguarding procedures

• Complete an Enhanced DBS and Child Barred List check and provide two references

• Enjoy spending time with children and believe in education for all

• Have comfortable fluency in English

• Be non-judgmental and respectful of a variety of lifestyles and children's learning

• Have excellent communication skills - be able to listen to families and communicate efficiently with Team Leaders (including via text/emails/calls with Doorstep Library staff)

When do I need to be available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

We have volunteer opportunities on either Monday, Tuesday or Thursday afternoons starting at 4.30 pm and finishing at 6.30 pm. Volunteers only visit during school term times so there are plenty of breaks throughout the year including 3 one week breaks for half terms, 3 weeks for both Christmas and Easter as well as 7 weeks for the summer holidays. Volunteers are also entitled to 2 absences per term. Overall, volunteers just volunteer for approximately 31 weeks of the year! If you cannot make a regular commitment, we also have a Stand-In volunteer role where you will stand in for when weekly volunteers are not available. We ask Stand-in volunteers to volunteer 12 times across the academic year which works out to between 1 and 2 volunteer sessions per month.