St Lawrence's headteacher David Thewlis says there is no doubt about the value of the work the volunteers do. At a time when lots of parents are working full time, it is great to find volunteers who can make the sort of commitment that the RSVP volunteers can make. Many of them are almost like grandparents for the children, and they really do bring a different approach. The help of such volunteers has perhaps never been so sorely needed. That matters, because in today's hi-tech information age the consequences of poor literacy are alarming.
Recent estimates show that poor basic skills in the workplace costs the British economy billions.
There could hardly be a better way, therefore, of age investing in youth. The benefit isn't all one way, of course. They would probably be sitting at home doing nothing if it weren't for this. Instead they're getting involved in the community, they're helping. David Thewlis adds that the reading sessions are often just the start of a much wider involvement in the life of the school.