Readers have given a staggering response to a literacy scheme run by the Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

Fifty people have volunteered to help teenagers improve their literacy and reading skills in the Reading Matters for Life campaign after it was revealed that standards in Bradford fell well below the national average.

Statistics show only 54 per cent of youngsters from the city reached the required standards in literacy for Key Stage 3 under the national curriculum last year. The national average is 64 per cent.

Telegraph & Argus editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “We believed that the Reading Matters for Life project deserves support and our readers obviously feel the same. The people who have volunteered their time to the charity will be making a real difference to the lives of youngsters in the district.”

If all 50 volunteers pass through their training and stay on the programe up to 300 children in the area would benefit from the one-to-one guidance offered.

Reading Matters for Life director Sarah Willis said: “We have had quite a few male volunteers, which is excellent because they make very good role models in classes and we are always looking out for more male volunteers because of this.

“It is not just volunteers who have come forward but people involved in education who want to offer their help as well. It is fantastic.”

Dr Lorraine Barrass, project manager for the charity, said: “It is an absolutely fantastic response and we cannot thank the T&A enough for the support and coverage it has given to the project.

“We have hit our target straight away and are continuing to keep a steady stream of volunteers coming in.”

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