Annual Report 2023
DORSET READING PARTNERS
May 2023
Registered charity no. 1116404
Charity Details
Objectives
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1) To advance the education of children in Dorset, particularly by helping with their reading development,
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2) To advance the education of volunteers, by the provision of advice and training.
Activities Undertaken for Public Benefit
Dorset Reading Partners recruits, trains, supports and equips literacy volunteers who provide regular, sustained, one-to-one support to local children in order to help them with their reading development. Reading partners work in primary schools with children, aged between 4 - 11, identified by their teachers as requiring extra support or nurturing. Our focus is on increasing children’s motivation and confidence and improving their wellbeing, as well as developing their language and reading skills.
Trustees
The board of trustees oversees the management of the Charity as well as providing support & guidance to staff, and meets four times a year.
Alison Debenham Heather Maddox
Bryan Stubbs Heather Shore
Honorary Treasurer
Jackie Taylor AAT
Staff
Staff work part-time, during term-time only.
Volunteer Services Manager: Juliet Ruddick Volunteer Coordinator: Bonnie Stevens Volunteer Support Worker: Mary Randall
Office
The Little Keep Barrack Road Dorchester DT1 1SQ
01305 458515 www.dorsetreadingpartners.org.uk
Review
This has been a period of relative stability for the Charity after the disruption caused by the pandemic over the past few years. Volunteer numbers have increased and we continue to see demand for our service from schools across the county.
Like all charities we have experienced a rise in costs in recent months, and so we will be making a small increase to the schools’ subscription charges for the next school year. We will also be seeking new funding streams in order to subsidise our service and maintain its affordability.
We will continue to invest time and resources into our remarkable team of volunteer reading partners. They are, quite simply, our greatest asset, as the feedback below clearly shows:
What Schools Say
“We love having our reading partner as part of the team and the children always enjoy a chat with her (they get so much more than that but they see it as a social too!)” Headteacher, Pimperne Primary School
“ Our reading partner has made great relationships with the children and it is a wonderful experience for those that have time out of the class to not only read, but to have rich conversations too.” Class teacher, Milldown Primary School
“Our reading partner is amazing - we feel very lucky to have her!”
Headteacher, Thorners Primary School
“We love working with our reading partners and truly value all the work we do with Dorset Reading Partners. Long may it continue!”
Headteacher, Prince of Wales First School
“Our reading partner’s professionalism and encouragement are so impressive. The children love coming to her and are so happy to read with her. We are very lucky to have her.” Class teacher, St Catherine’s Primary School
“Thank you for all your wonderful Reading Partners who are just brilliant for our children!” Headteacher, Sherborne Primary School
Annual Accounts
DORSET READING PARTNERS
Receipts and Payments to 30th April 2023
| Receipts Contributions from schools Grants/Donations Other Total Receipts Payments Employee costs Travel Expenses Office Costs Stationery/Postage Premises costs Telephone/Internet/Subscriptions Equipment/Furniture Operational Costs Resources Volunteer expenses Meetings/Training/Events Insurance Total Payments Net of Receipts/ (payments) |
30th April 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ 8230 0 8230 16443 1200 17643 0 0 0 |
30th April 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ 4810 0 13103 450 2184 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 24673 1200 25873 18645 0 18645 1135 0 1135 493 0 493 2068 0 2068 864 0 864 30 128 158 185 550 735 804 0 804 829 97 926 189 0 189 |
20097 450 15665 0 692 0 530 0 1841 0 978 0 356 450 763 0 861 0 788 0 183 0 |
|
| 25242 775 26017 |
22657 450 |
|
| -569 425 -144 |
-2560 0 |
|
| Cash funds last Year end | 13973 0 13973 |
16533 0 |
| Cash funds at the period end | 13404 425 13829 |
13973 0 |
Donations & Funding
We are grateful to The Valentine Trust, The Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Foundation, National Education Union (Dorset), The Delamere Foundation, and other generous private donors for their support.
Activities May 22 - April 23
During the year the Charity has:
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Recruited and trained sixteen new volunteer reading partners
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Started working in four new schools
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Delivered in-school Parent Helper and Reading Buddy training sessions
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Supported volunteers with regular contact and school visits
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Held book exchanges in venues across the county
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Hosted informal volunteer coffee mornings in various locations
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Organised Phonics, Dyslexia and Using Resources workshops for volunteers
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Issued 320 personalised end of year certificates to our supported pupils (July 22
At the end of April 2023, the charity has 80 volunteer reading partners in 58 schools across Dorset, supporting around 350 children.
----- Start of picture text -----
We play games first before we
It’s fun!”
read, so by the time I look at a
book, I feel nice and relaxed. What children say
about their sessions
That book's 10/10 . . . no it’s
not, it’s 100/100! “I like it because I
can choose
I’ve started reading quicker now
----- End of picture text -----
What our volunteers say
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“Thank you for all the support you give. It never feels like I’m on my own.”
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“My husband says he can tell how much I enjoy (being a reading partner) because my face lights up when I talk about it.”
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“I have great fun with my pupils and can’t wait to be entertained each week!”
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“I really enjoy helping the children to open up and chat and to encourage them to love reading, especially the reluctant ones!!”
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“I think you might be able to tell that I absolutely love being a DRP volunteer.”
The Year in Pictures 2022 - 2023
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Initial training days
For new recruits
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----- Start of picture text -----
Coffee mornings
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----- Start of picture text -----
for volunteers
Library visit
Book exchanges
Reading Buddy training
for our schools
Our new ambassador Lucy Volpin
Guest speaker at our 2022
AGM
Lovely new resources And again at our Dyslexia
workshop in March 23
thanks to The Delamere Foundation
Long Service awards
for our wonderful volunteers
----- End of picture text -----
Sa shHrtOn. Bewo Regls. Wareham Dorset BH20 7HU 01929471480 4pI Independent Examlnatlon of the Accounts of Dorset Reading Partners An Independent Examination of the accounts ol the Dorset Readln8 Partners. charity registration No.1116404,forthe financlal year 2022123 was carried out by lan Ventham FCIF under section 145 of the 2011 Act. The examln*ion was condurted in accordance wlth the Dlrettions given by the Charlty Commissi¢Jn. I confirm that I have reviewed the accountln8 records kept by the charity and found thatthe records agree with the Accounts presented in the (harlVs Annual Reportand Accounts. lan R Ventham