At Read With Me, we have had plenty to celebrate this month. As Volunteers’ Week came to a close, we were honoured to be named the ‘Best Organisation to Volunteer With’ at the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards 2026. To make the moment even more special, the award comes as we celebrate our first year as a registered charity – a milestone that reflects the dedication and support of our volunteers, community partners, partner schools and funders.
An Afternoon to Remember
We enjoyed celebrating alongside so many inspiring individuals and organisations at the Gloucestershire Volunteer Awards, held at Hatherley Manor, recognising the incredible difference they make across the county.
Winning the Best Organisation to Volunteer With award is a tremendous honour. As a charity built on the power of volunteering, this award means so much because it reflects the experiences and commitment of the individuals who give their time to help children across Gloucestershire learn to read well.
The afternoon was a celebration of the impact volunteers have in strengthening communities, changing lives and helping others. Thank you to Go Volunteer Glos for organising such a fantastic event and everyone who nominated us for this award. Finally, we would like to thank each and every one of our volunteers; quite simply, we could not do what we do without you.
One Year as a Charity
This celebration feels particularly meaningful as we mark our first year as a registered charity.
Over the past year, we have continued to grow our reach and now work with nearly 120 primary and secondary schools across Gloucestershire.
While becoming a charity was an important milestone, our goal remains unchanged: to help children build the confidence and literacy skills they need to thrive.
Here’s to the Next Chapter
Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunity to support even more children who could benefit from regular one-to-one reading support. However, we need your help.
Whether you choose to give your time as a volunteer, host fundraising events or make a monthly donation, every contribution makes a real difference.
In just under 2 weeks, our team will be taking on the Gloucester 10k to raise much needed funds to support our work. If you would like to sponsor our team, you can do so via JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/campaign/rwmglos10k
If you’d like to become a reading volunteer in a school near you, visit our dedicated page for volunteers or get in touch: call 07880288395 (business hours) or 07791110906 (evenings and weekends). Or email our Volunteer Manager at volunteer@readwithme.org.uk.
Not everyone can volunteer during school hours, but there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Whether you’d like to prepare crafts, support holiday or after-school clubs, or help with fundraising, we’d love to hear from you. Email crystal@readwithme.org.uk or call 07791 110906.
