Doorstep Library Reading Volunteers visit the same families at home or on their doorstep, every week with backpacks full of books and two little stools to share their love of reading with the children they visit.
Our volunteers don’t just read stories though; they do silly voices, handpick the books, and give special recommendations for each child. And, at the end of the session, they leave behind a selection of books for the children to borrow for the week.
Through our long-term approach, our volunteers build trusting relationships with families, helping to connect them with the community and signposting to additional sources of local support. Whether in person, or online, we are there to support children and families who need us most.
We have volunteer opportunities in Euston, Somers Town, Chalk Farm, Marylebone, Edgware Road, Pimilco, Brixton and also across Hammersmith & Fulham.
Doorstep Library is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and all those it comes into contact with. All volunteers undergo rigorous safer recruitment processes including specified interview questions, a DBS check, and the collection of written and/or verbal references. Safeguarding training is a mandatory part of the induction process for all volunteers, and they are expected to always adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures.
Reading Volunteer Specification (9)_0.pdf
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Visit families and children either at their home, on their doorstep.
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Handpick books and read stories with families and children.
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Work with a volunteer partner every time you volunteer.
As a Stand-in volunteer, you will fill in for when regular volunteers are not here. You will end up volunteering with many different partners and visit many different families.
Time commitment
We also have a Stand-in opportunity Volunteer for anyone who can't volunteer every week. This works out as volunteering once every 2 or 3 weeks. This also takes place on either a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday starting at 4.30pm and finishing at 7.00pm.
UCL Departments
- Arts and Sciences BASc
- European and International Social and Political Studies
- English Language and Literature
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
- IOE - Education and Society
- Social Science
- Social Research Institute
- UCL Institute of Education
- Education, Practice and Society
- Culture, Communication and Media
- Population Health Sciences
- Social & Historical Sciences
- History of Art
- Political Science