Many young people leave care ill-prepared for independent living and the challenges of being an adult, having often experienced a very disrupted and difficult childhood. In addition, it is estimated that more than 75% of young people leaving care have no academic qualifications of any kind and have poor literacy and basic skills. Many local authorities and voluntary agencies are exploring and developing ways of working with care leavers backed up by new Government initiatives such as the Quality Protects Programme and National Priorities Guidance.

Read On - Write Away! (ROWA!) is a multi-agency community literacy initiative in Derbyshire, funded for five years to raise standards and promote a culture that celebrates literacy. This includes the training of reading volunteers, workplace and family literacy projects, library and under fives projects, as well as work in schools and colleges. One of the major strategies over the past year has been the Buddy Reading Scheme, encouraging, training and supporting young people to work with younger children. There are 30 such projects in Derbyshire and Derby City.

For the past year, this scheme has been the basis of an exciting development, working with young people who have left care, to encourage them back into learning. With funding from the Adult and Community Learners Fund, the Care Leavers Buddy Reading Project was set up, working with a number of voluntary agencies to improve the literacy skills of young people in way, which not only benefits them, but also benefits children in school.

Working with a small group of young people, many of whom have been excluded from mainstream education and/or have been looked after, the project aims to change their feelings about formal learning and literacy. Often, education has been associated with failure and exclusion; by working in school and helping children with their learning, the young people involved in the project have a positive experience.

Currently the project involves 60 young adults, young people and children. The buddies receive training, backed up by a training file, which includes information on the approach to be taken, safety issues and confidentiality. There is space to record both their and the children's progress. Supported by a project worker, each of the buddies works with two children in a primary school for an hour a week. The schools involved are briefed initially about the Buddy Reading Project and its objectives and have been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. They realise that the project makes an important contribution to promoting a culture of literacy both in the school and in the community.

Early indications suggest that all the children receiving input are benefiting, in particular teachers comment on the change in children's attitude to reading and in their self-confidence. The key message is that reading is fun, particularly when learning is mutual. Where buddies have poor reading skills, they have still been able to engage and excite the children they have worked with. Young children look forward to the day when 'their' buddy is coming to school - especially if that buddy is six foot tall with a number of interesting piercings in their eyebrows, nose and mouth!

Underlying all of this is the major aim, which is to get these young people involved in education, training or employment, and guidance is available to support them with their future plans. The first four buddies in the project all left after completing their 'contract' with a school, going onto a job, a place in the Army, and further training. One buddy went into childcare, having realised how much she enjoyed working with children.

 

The ROWA! Buddy Reading Project has won the Community Care Award for independent partnerships working with those in or leaving care, which brought not only a trophy and certificate but also a cheque for £4,000 to develop the project. A conference to encourage more involvement by Social Services staff and voluntary agencies in this area of work takes place in March.  A successful bid to the Millennium Volunteers Fund will enable ROWA! to recognise and accredit all young people who become literacy volunteers over the next three years, including all involved with the Buddy Reading Project. A Buddy Reading Training File is available for schools containing everything that is needed to set up a Buddy Reading Project, including sample letters, overhead transparencies and tips for success. This is available from ROWA! for £20.00. Training can also be arranged. Contact ROWA! on 01629 585603 or email: carol@rowa.co.uk or visit www.rowa.co.uk

 
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