Help the next generation cultivate a love of reading – volunteer for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge!
We are looking for volunteers of all ages (above 14 years) to help keep children reading over the summer holidays.

What will it involve?
• Talking with children about the books they’ve been reading and encouraging them to share their views and ideas
• Handing out medals and certificates
• Helping children to have fun and enjoy the Summer Reading Challenge
• Encouraging children to read for pleasure
• Assisting with administration, e.g. registration membership, filing
• Helping customers by referring enquiries to library staff

What will you get from volunteering?
• Valuable work experience and new skills, good for the CV
• Confidence in talking to children and adults
• Pleasure of encouraging children to enjoy reading
• The opportunity to make a positive contribution to the community

What training and support will you receive?
Southend Libraries will invite you to a training session in July where your role will be explained in further detail, and you will have the opportunity to meet library staff and other volunteers and ask questions. There will be ongoing support from library staff.

Skills

No qualification needed. You’ll only need to be:
• A good team worker, able to work with library staff and other volunteers
• Reliable, well organised and calm under pressure
• Enthusiastic about encouraging children to read
• Able to communicate with customers of all ages including parents
• Able to talk to children about the books they’ve been reading
• Friendly and approachable
• Committed to helping libraries and our customers