There is something truly magical about seeing a child become a reader. As a 'Great at Eight' EdConnect reading volunteer, you will hold the wand to create the magic! Learning to read happens differently for all children. For most children, reading will be something they improve on over time but for some, they may continue to struggle without a little extra help. Perhaps English isn't the language spoken at home, perhaps there's no-one at home with time to spend reading or perhaps reading and books just aren't a feature of a young child's home-life. Research continually reminds us that reading is one of the most important skills a child will ever learn. Not only because reading impacts our daily lives, for life, in a million practical ways, but for a child, reading also builds concentration, improves memory, expands vocabulary, and supports better performance in school, which in turn dissuades disengagement from their education. Sharing the joy of stories through reading increases empathy and general knowledge and creates opportunities for discussion and exploration of the story and characters. The Organisation for Economic Coo-operation and Development (2002) went as far as to suggest that reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child's success - more powerful than socio-economic background. For a minimum of an hour a week during term time, for a minimum of six months, you can be allocated to a local primary school to work with one or a small group of students for whom you will make a world of difference, for life. EdConnect volunteers have been supporting school students to thrive for almost 30 years. No previous experience is required - you will be trained and matched with a student in your local area where you can start to work your magic with a child who needs your help most.