Reading Friends Australia to support more kids in the Highlands, Wollondilly and Goulburn

The charity, which has been operating in the region since 2022, has secured a grant worth more than $30,000 to expand and promote its services to other schools in the Highlands, as well as Goulburn and Wollondilly areas.

The Supporting Schools Improving Reading Skills in Children program, was awarded the grant under the state government's Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery initiative.

RFA chair Luciana Michiel said the aim was to improve reading skills and support volunteers.

"Volunteers read with the same children at least once a week, establishing a friendly working relationship, which benefits both the child and the volunteer, taking away some pressure from the teachers at the same time," she said.

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"We recruit, vet and train volunteers to go into schools as reading helpers.

"Teachers select the children who need assistance, and a roster is organised."

As part of the charity's vision, blue boxes full of free books are also dotted around the region for children and their families to take.

This aims to ease the financial pressure of buying books, and encourages children to read with others at home.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the school program was a "great example" of an initiative that supported young people, "by providing them with the tools and resources they need to become the best version of themselves".

The state government initiative's aim is to support the recovery and resilience of young people after the pandemics, fires and floods.

Those interested in becoming a RFA volunteer, can apply on the Reading Friends Australia website, or by emailing info@readingfriends.org.au.

Book Boxes can be found at the following locations:

Learn more about the charity on readingfriends.org.au.

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