Reading Mentoring: Small Commitment, Lasting Impact
End of Year Reflection
As we wrap up another year of the BW3 Reading Mentoring Programme, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who have given their time, energy and encouragement to support students at St Paul’s RC High School.
One of those volunteers, Rob Dillon, shared this powerful reflection after completing his final session of the year:
“The Year 9 student I’ve been supporting has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, despite being highly dyslexic. What struck me most was his learning superpowers — his incredible ability to grasp the meaning of complex words, even when he couldn’t read them, and his perseverance in turning up every single week to try and read.
This experience taught me to look beyond limitations and focus on strengths – a valuable lesson for employers and mentors alike.”
Rob’s words capture what makes this programme so special. Reading mentoring isn’t just about improving literacy. It’s about showing up for a young person each week. It’s about belief, encouragement, and helping someone unlock their potential — one page at a time.
Since launching the programme in partnership with St Paul’s in 2021, dozens of local business volunteers have stepped up to support students who are struggling with reading. Many of these students start secondary school with little confidence in their abilities — some unable to read even basic words. But thanks to the patient, consistent support of our mentors, real progress is being made.
Huge credit goes to Jamie Sharrock, Literacy Lead and English Teacher at St Paul’s, for embedding this life-changing initiative into the school community and championing its value every step of the way.
A call for new mentors
As Rob put it:
“Can you dedicate just 20 minutes a week to make a difference in a student’s life? You’ll not only be supporting their growth, but also gaining a new perspective on strengths and abilities.”
We’ll be welcoming a new cohort of mentors this September — and we’d love to have more local business people involved. Full training is provided, and mentors gain just as much from the experience as the students they support.
If you’re interested in joining the programme, visit our Reading Mentoring page or get in touch directly.
Thank you again to every mentor who has taken part this year — your commitment has made a genuine and lasting difference.