A CHARITY that has helped thousands of children in the district improve their reading skills is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Reading Matters trains both adults and young people to become “reading mentors” for children to help boost their literacy levels.

Last year, a record 6,805 youngsters benefited.

The most recent report by the charity into the impact of its work found that children helped by the scheme had improved their reading age by 13 months, with some raising their reading age by up to four years.

Originally, the Bradford-based charity only provided reading mentors to pupils at secondary level, but now it also trains staff to become mentors in primary schools.

The charity also trains Reading Leaders – pupils who are able to help support younger children who struggle to get to grips with reading.

Chief executive, Rachel Kelly, said: “Reading Matters was established with the purpose of providing reading mentors for children who had recently made the transition from primary to secondary school and whose literacy skills were preventing them from doing their best.

“Since then we have expanded enormously and, through consultation with teaching staff and others, now offer a range of programmes which help children and young people across all the key stages to read well, with confidence and for enjoyment.

“I am very proud of everything that we have achieved in the last 20 years of Reading Matters and look forward to many more successful years to come.”

The anniversary will be marked with a conference at Bradford City Football Club on Thursday, June 29, called Closing the Literacy Gap – featuring workshops and speakers discussing the best ways of improving literacy skills in young people from all backgrounds.

Another anniversary event will be a fundraising ball at the Midland Hotel in Bradford on Saturday, March 11.

There will be auctions during the evening and the screening of a short film to commemorate 20 years of the charity.

To buy a ticket for the ball, visit readingmatters.org.uk/get-involved/events/reading-matters-charity-ball-2017/.