Reading Buddy Programme

Kinia’s Reading Buddy Programme works across Ireland to support primary level students who are struggling with their reading.

Reading Buddy Programme

Kinia’s Online Reading Buddy Programme works across Ireland to support primary level students who are struggling with their reading.

One in ten children in Irish schools have serious difficulties with literacy. In some disadvantaged schools, this is as high as almost one in three. This has a long lasting impact on children’s lives.

We work with corporate partners to provide on-to-one volunteer-based support to children aged 8-12 years:

Online

On camera and both child and volunteer have a copy of the book

In-person

Volunteer visits their Reading Buddy in school

For Educators

If you are a primary school teacher/principal/or school management and are interested in running the Reading Buddy Programme, get in touch to discuss: running the programme in your school, the resources and set up needed, the timelines for the programme and any other questions or issues you have.

Programme Duration

8 weeks

Time Commitment
2x 30 minute
sessions per week

School staff and Volunteer training
45-60 mins

All Volunteers are Garda Vetted

For Volunteers

We work with a number of corporate partners across Ireland. It’s a great way to get staff involved in a worthwhile programme, support young students, and spend 60 minutes a week on something different and enjoyable.
Get in touch to discuss: running the Reading programme in your company, the resources and set up needed, the application process, training and Garda Vetting, the timelines for the programme and any other questions or issues you have.

“It was great to see his confidence build from the first session where he was so much quieter and even speaking to me was nervous, to our last couple of sessions where he was so confident and like it is nice to see that when you give someone a bit of time and encouragement their confidence does build.”

Read our 2021 Impact Report

Reading Buddy Sessions

The 30 minutes sessions are a space for the student to read aloud to their Reading Buddy, who helps them through difficult words or sentences, while encouraging and praising them for their reading.

They discuss what’s happening in the book, the student’s favourite parts and what they think will happen next.

This all helps to build a positive relationship, and it develops the student’s comprehension skills and increases their confidence in their own ability.

“It was like my dad helped me at like reading a story at night, so that’s what it was like having that. It was like having somebody read beside you in the real world”