Impact Report 2024/25

Bookmark Reading Charity works with schools in disadvantaged communities to help every child learn to read, combining volunteer-led reading, books, family engagement and whole-school support. Its Impact Report 2024/25 shows Bookmark reaching 180,979 children, a 92% increase on the year before.

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About

At the heart of Bookmark's work is its One-to-one Reading Programme, where trained volunteers give children regular, individual reading sessions. Schools in its network receive books and resources worth up to £1,000 a year, and teachers are helped to build a whole-school reading culture. Families are encouraged to read together through the Family Engagement Programme and Your Story Corner, which becomes Roots to Reading from January 2026 in Rochdale, Derby and Derbyshire, and Hull. Book Clubs, including Comic Book Club and Fact Finding Club, Rocket Packs and The Story Corner magazine help keep children reading for pleasure.

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 Bookmark reached 180,979 children in 2024/25 through its literacy programmes, a 92% increase year on year.

Key Metric 2 More than 2,000 volunteers delivered 40,239 one-to-one reading sessions, and 70,329 diverse books were distributed to 399 schools in disadvantaged communities.

Key Metric 3 15,937 families were given access to reading resources across 90 schools, and 3,600 children took part in Book Clubs across 147 schools.

Key Outcomes

96% of teachers reported increased reading confidence among children on the One-to-one Reading Programme, and 94% of children maintained or improved against expected standards.
98% of teachers reported improved reading enjoyment and 94% said Bookmark's programmes enhanced their school's reading culture.
One teacher described a pupil whose reading age rose from six to 11 between July 2024 and July 2025, 'five years reading progress' in one year.