Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh)
25 March 2023Local charity ARCh celebrates 15 years
Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh) www.archoxfordshire.org.uk is a local charity which helps pupils in Oxfordshire who struggle with their reading. We send trained volunteers into primary schools and aim to inspire in the children we see a love of reading. This will enhance their lives and improve their life chances.
Since it was set up in 2008, ARCh has helped to transform the lives of thousands of children by giving them a lifelong love of reading, boosting their confidence, helping them to see themselves as learners and raising their aspirations.
Why are we needed?
Around 20% of children leave primary school with a reading level below expected. In some areas of disadvantage this figure can be as high as 60%. This has an impact on their ability to learn across all subjects and severely dents their confidence.
The Covid pandemic has particularly affected children, with 2 years of disruption to their schooling and social lives
Celebrating 15 years
On 1st April ARCh will be 15 years old. Thanks to the dedication of this award -winning charity’s staff and volunteers the charity has grown and each year helps around 750 primary school children develop a love of reading each year
Children now need our help more than ever, and we are calling on local communities to help us reach a record breaking number of children this year.
How you can help
Do you know a company, church, community group, village fete which would like to adopt us as their charity of the year?
Do you know any keen runners who might want to run in support of ARCh in the Oxford half-marathon?
Do you, or anyone you know, want to run a bake sale or do a sponsored walk? Or a sponsored anything?
Do you know any caterers who might want to support our work by offering a good deal at one of our events?
Or would you like to volunteer as a reading helper?
Sandra Selby, ARCh Volunteer for 10 years, says “I always left school with a smile on my face. ARCh was a very rewarding charity to work with and the ARCh back-up team supports volunteers so well.”
You can contact ARCh by emailing info@archoxfordshire.org.uk or calling the ARCh office on 01869 320380.
