For training resources to use when setting up Summer Reading Challenge volunteering in your library visit our resources for librarians page.

About Summer Reading Challenge volunteering

Every year the Summer Reading Challenge engages thousands of children in reading over the long school holidays.

Many library services have found that working with young volunteers has really helped relieve pressure on staff during the busy summer period. Meanwhile volunteers get some fantastic new skills and experience for their CVs. Last year 8,126 volunteers aged 12-24 make the Challenge a roaring success. An Impact Study conducted by OPM in 2014 suggests that volunteering impacts positively on young people, enables them to make a positive difference to their local area and places young people at the centre of the volunteering offer in libraries, places an 'emphasis on developing certain sets of skills that improve employability and are known to help prepare young people for the realities of work.

What do volunteers do?

Volunteer roles can vary but certain tasks are commonly undertaken. These are:

• Helping staff to administer the Challenge
• Talking to children about the books they've been reading
• Helping children to choose new books
• Helping with summer activities
• Helping to create in-library displays

Volunteers from Westminster has this to say about their 2012 Summer Reading Challenge volunteering experience:

Benefits for libraries

• Support with the time-consuming work involved in the Summer Reading Challenge
• A more youthful image
• The enthusiasm and fresh perspective of young people
• A link with local communities
• Help to deliver activities
• Staff confidence in working positively with young people

Listen to Nathan Davies of Callington Library discuss his experiences of working with Summer Reading Challenge Activists below.

Benefits for volunteers

• Valuable work experience
• A reference for employment
• The opportunity to develop confidence, social skills, employment opportunities and literacy skills
• The opportunity to make a positive contribution to their communities
• A chance to make new friends

Resources for libraries

You can access the following resources on our Resources for Librarians section:

• A Volunteer Training Presentation for authorities to deliver training locally on recruiting volunteers
• Updated Volunteer Handbook and Templates for working with volunteers and developing a volunteering policy
  * Resources for recruiting young volunteers including schools advocacy materials
• Resources for using the volunteer packs
• Resources for evaluation with young people including training young people as peer-to-peer evaluators

What skills do volunteers get?

With the help of Reading Activists and comedian Holly Walsh we have create FOUR new videos to showcase the skills you get through volunteering.

Watch the videos here:

We have launched a volunteering website for young volunteers who are helping with The Summer Reading Challenge.

This year, young volunteers will be part of the Reading Hack programme, that see's young people getting involved with reading inspired activities, reading volunteering and inspiring their peers to read.The summer website will feature competitions and an ideas bank where volunteers can add their own hack activity ideas for things to do with other volunteers, with children or alone at quiet moments in the library.

Get involved

If you're a young person hoping to volunteer with the Summer Reading Challenge this year get in touch with your local library and take a look at what previous volunteers say about their experience.

If you're a librarian get training resources on setting up Summer Reading Challenge volunteering including a training session presentation