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ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children) is a local registered charity which recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work one-to-one with primary school children, inspiring them to develop a love of reading. Even in a relatively prosperous area like Oxfordshire there are many children who have trouble reading: • Some have lost confidence because they have fallen behind. • Some are shy and do not communicate well. • Some have missed out on the development of vital skills in early childhood. • Some have difficulty concentrating. • Some do not speak English at home. • Some just need a boost to help them catch up. At present there are around 250 ARCh volunteers working in 100 primary schools throughout Oxfordshire. Each volunteer is assigned 3 primary school children to work one-to-one with, for 30 minutes at a time, twice a week, during the school day. Volunteers are asked to commit to working with these children for the entire year. The charity provides books and games, personalised to suit the individual children. Sessions involve a mixture of chat, sharing books and playing games. They are fun and encouraging and so build up the children’s confidence and self-esteem. The aim is to impart a love of reading and learning in general, thereby improving children’s life chances. ARCh is always looking for more volunteers. Anyone interested can download an application form from www.archoxfordshire.org.uk website or call the ARCh office on 01869 320380.