Education

By Miranda Robertson

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

The Dorset Reading Partners charity is celebrating its 15year anniversary – and launching an appeal for more volunteers to help children become confident readers. The charity trains, equips and supports a large team of volunteer reading partners who provide regular 1:1 help to children in primary schools right across the county, and their services are needed more than ever as pupils settle back into school after a year of disrupted learning. Charity manager Juliet Ruddick said: “Dorset Reading Partners was set up in March 2006 to provide quality in-school help for developing young readers, and since then we have worked with more than 4,000 local children. “Our reading partners don’t just listen to children read; they make reading fun by offering choice, conversation and skilled support, and children flourish as a result of this approach. “Our aim is to help children enjoy and succeed at reading, and it is always so satisfying to

A volunteer helps a child with their reading at a Dorset school

Could you help a child to read? Volunteers wanted

see a previously reluctant reader become more enthusiastic and confident as we progress.” She added: “We really look after our volunteers, providing comprehensive training, DBS checks, top quality resources, ongoing support, and regular meetings and visits to ensure they have the best possible experience with us. Many of our brilliant team have been with us for years, but we are always looking for more people to join us, especially now as we prepare for the busy year ahead.” Could you help inspire a child to read? Dorset Reading Partners would love to hear from you if you love books, enjoy working with children and have two hours a week to spare over a year. You can find out more at dorsetreading partners.org.uk or contact Juliet on 01305 458515.

Gillingham School pupils invited to apply for grant cash

Pupils in financial need from Gillingham School who want to continue their educational journey into college or university are being invited to apply for a slice of the George Butler Scholarship Fund before April 30. Former pupil George Butler was a local farmer and ran the farm at Gillingham School throughout the 1960s and 1970s. When he died in 1999 he left part of his estate to establish a fund to give financial assistance to needy former pupils to continue with further and higher education. Trustees say they are indebted to George Butler for providing help to pupils to meet the considerable costs and fees now involved in continuing studies. They welcome applications for student maintenance costs, and/or payment of university or college tuition fees and/or the acquisition of books or equipment. Ten applications were received last year for awards from present and past pupils of Gillingham School. Based on the applications, the trustees decided on support ranging from £200 towards a laptop up to £1,200 for those applicants who best met the criteria. Written applications should be sent to: George Butler Scholarship Fund (2021) c/o 1 Knapp Cottages, Wyke Road, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4NQ If submitting by email, attach your file and send to phenderson@gillinghamdorset.co.uk Letters must include postal and email address, details of the applicant’s background, • dates of attendance at Gillingham School and exam results achieved, full details of the courses of study applied for nand how the George Butler Award would support the applicant.

Branching Out For encouragement and insightful support through your INTERVIEWS, contact Caroline... caroline@branchingoutmentor.com or 07983 786650 www.branchingoutmentor.com Whatever the stage you are at, I will equip you with tools to approach your interviews with a genuine self assurance.