Literacy Volunteers

02/09/2026

Welcome to a new term! 📚

We hope all our schools, volunteers and families have had a good summer.

We’re looking forward to our Volunteers getting back into schools and restarting our Early Years sessions over the coming weeks.

We can’t wait to see everyone again and begin another busy term of sharing books and stories with children across Nottinghamshire.

26/08/2026

Nottingham City Libraries are looking Nottingham’s Favourite Feel Good Book and have shortlisted six very different books chosen by library staff and volunteers.

The campaign celebrates reading for pleasure as a way to relax, escape and look after our wellbeing - and anyone who lives, works or studies in Nottingham can vote.

Take a look at the shortlist and vote for your favourite by Sunday 4 October. The winner will be announced on World Mental Health Day.

Find out more and vote here:
https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/nottmrecs-feel-good-books/

Have you read any of the shortlist? Which would you choose?

For Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Weeks, we need your help to choose Nottingham’s favourite feel-good read!

26/08/2026

As people around the world remember Dolly Parton, we want to celebrate the remarkable literacy legacy she leaves behind. 📚💛

Dolly believed passionately that every child should experience the joy, confidence and possibility that books can bring. Through the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, that belief has placed millions of books into the hands of children and families around the world.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library also operates here in Nottingham, which is made possible by local organisations, fundraisers and individuals who share Dolly’s commitment to helping children develop a love of reading.

That commitment is, of course, very close to our hearts at Literacy Volunteers. We’re proud to be part of a city with so many people dedicated to opening up the world of books for children.

Find out more about Nottingham Imagination Library and support its continuing work here:

Registered Charity: 1204435 working in partnership with Nottingham City Council, The Rotary Club of Nottingham and Small Steps Big Changes

23/07/2026

We're delighted to share that our recent 30th Anniversary Celebration was featured on ITV News!

It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate three decades of changing lives through the power of literacy, alongside our incredible volunteers, supporters and partners who have made this milestone possible.

A huge thank you to ITV News for helping us share our story and the impact of Literacy Volunteers with a wider audience.

Watch the report here: https://www.itv.com/watch/news/catch-up-on-itv-news-central-east-midlands-wednesday-22nd-july/092jtqf

Our feature starts from 14:41 and runs until 18:06.

Watch the latest from ITV News - Watch the latest ITV News Central East news programme - Wednesday 22ndJuly

20/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D2pGzvjej/

17/07/2026

Wow what a celebration! Our Literacy Volunteers 30 year Anniversary Event was held this week Wednesday 15 July 2026. We were thrilled to have so many of our Volunteers attend and to thank them for their service especially 9 Volunteers who we celebrated an amazing 10 years service or more and one spectacular 27 years! Thank you to all our guests our Charity patron Jacob Dunne, Sheriff of Nottingham Councillor Audrey Dinnall, Lord Mayor of Nottingham Cheryl Barnard, Councillor David Mellen, Deputy Leader of Nottingham County Council Dawn Justice, Judith Swann Deputy Lieutenant, Charity founder and Honorary Member Karen Pyke plus our Charity supporters, friends and past Literacy Volunteers team members. Thanks also goes to guest speakers Debbie Thomas, OU Lecturer, on her talk about Reading for Pleasure and to the children of Mellers Primary School who were amazing! Wonderful video congratulatory messages were also received from authors Chris Smith Books, Nick Sharratt and MP Lilian Greenwood. Our brilliant staff member Sue Marriott was also honoured for her dedicated 25 years service and given a fantastic retirement send off. As a charity we are so proud to have reached this milestone. We hope to continue our mission for many more years with our dedicated Volunteer workforce helping the children of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire lovereading, lovebooks and love reading for pleasure.