As conversations around literacy and reading gain momentum during the UK’s National Year of Reading, Spark is proud to be continuing its support for Bookmark Reading Charity. Bookmark works with primary school children, particularly in disadvantaged communities, to improve literacy and build a love of reading.

Storytelling and communication sit at the heart of what we do, making Bookmark a great fit for Spark. Over the last three years, the Spark team has been giving extra reading support to children through regular short video calls – spending more than 160 hours helping 20 children.

Consistency creates confidence

Bookmark makes it very easy to get involved. Volunteers commit to two short reading sessions each week – and we have noticed how these regular moments of support make a visible difference over time. Holly says: “Week by week, I’ve watched the child I read with become more engaged, and move up through Bookmark’s reading levels. Seeing that progress first-hand has been incredibly rewarding.”

Regular reading support is building children’s broader confidence. Ashleigh adds: “I’ve seen children transform in just a few weeks, starting off fairly quiet before becoming much more expressive and engaged during our sessions. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow more comfortable and proud of their progress over time.”

The programme has also become a shared point of connection across the Spark team, showing how small, consistent actions can have a lasting impact. And with Bookmark regularly adding new titles to its library, we’ve also discovered plenty of new stories along the way!

Turning the next page 

Reading is one of the most important foundations a child can have, shaping confidence, education, and future opportunities far beyond the classroom. Bookmark’s latest impact report highlights just how important that support can be, with 96% of teachers noticing an increase in reading confidence and 94% of children maintaining or improving their performance against expected reading standards.

We’re proud to play a small part in helping children build confidence through reading. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience for the team, and one we’re excited to continue building on in the years ahead. The charity is on a mission to support 500,000 children through its literacy programmes by 2027 – anyone interested in getting involved can sign up here.