Chapter One

Who we are

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most. 

To achieve this, we run two programmes – Chapter One - Online Reading Volunteers and Chapter One - Early Literacy Intervention.

Our unique, flagship Online Reading Volunteer programme pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old readers with reading support volunteers who are working professionals. The volunteer ask is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

From a school perspective, online reading volunteers provide direct, meaningful literacy support for up to 10 pupils per class. The programme is particularly suitable for communities where it might be challenging to find parents and other volunteers who can commit to physically visiting schools to boost reading.

In 2024-25 we aim to support 3300 children across 11 different areas of England and Scotland.

Our Early Literacy Intervention programme, currently in its pilot phase and based on a programme that works successfully in the USA, focuses on keep-up support for children who are behind in phonics. Targeting children in Reception and Year 1, in schools that struggle to achieve good phonics screening and/or KS1 SATs results, this programme provides daily, 1:1, 7 minute phonics sessions. Using a bespoke technology tool, a trained Early Reading Interventionist (ELI) works individually with target children.

Our culture and values

We are proud to be an organisation with the following five core values:

• ambitious
• empowering
• energetic
• inclusive
• optimistic

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from persons who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. 

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people.   All postholders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.