Applications for 2025 grants
will close 2nd week January
SOME OF OUR PROJECTS...
ABC to Read
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Assisting Berkshire Children to Read places trained volunteer reading mentors into Berkshire Schools where they support children who might be living in areas of significant deprivation, or have lost confidence because they’ve fallen behind, or perhaps don’t speak English at home. Their work contributes to improvements in the social and educational inequality that many local children struggle. We have supported ABC to Read in the recruitment, training and support of 23 new volunteers to support 69 children in Berkshire who have difficulty with reading.
To find out more about the work ABC to Read does, or to get involved as a school or volunteer you can visit Assisting Berkshire Children to Read
The Engine Shed​​
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The Engine Shed in Reading is a special interest facility for autistic children and young people. It promotes learning and social skills in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, using their love of trains as an entry point. Our support helped provide regular monthly sessions, days out and a new train layout as well as supporting their ongoing costs.
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To learn more or to volunteer, visit The Engine Shed | Monthly Train Club for Children on the Autistic Spectrum
Eldene Nursery & Primary School
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We supported a Lego Therapy intervention project and after school Club at Eldene School in Swindon. The Club aims to help children with multiple barriers to learning (language deprivation, social, emotional and academic gaps, the aftermath of Covid) by using Lego to encourage them to interact with their peers, build relationships, communicate and solve problems through building. Trained staff lead the classroom and children are given specific roles (engineer, builder, supplier etc.) and rules to follow, helping them to be successful as they build. The skills acquired (social contact, interaction and co-operation, learning to take turns) can be generalised to other groups and classroom-based activities.
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Our grant helped to provide a range of Lego sets and provided training courses for staff.