Support Us
There are a number of ways to support our work. In becoming a supporter you give us crucial help to support our readers.
The Reader Organisation team in training for the Three Peaks Challenge
Fundraising: Reader Apprenticeship Programme:
Giving opportunities for life to care leavers
We currently have two care leavers working full-time in their local communities. We are as fortunate to have them, as they are to be with us, which is why we’re seeking to develop our Reader Apprenticeship programme. Through it we aim to attract more young people who are leaving foster care and who find themselves a distance away from the job market. We want to give these young people responsible and creative roles across the organisation.
This year we aim to raise £14,000 to employ our next Reader Apprentice, who will start work in April 2013.
For the successful apprentice, this will not just be a single year-long job but a life changing springboard: they will be given on-the-job and vocational training in a nurturing, supportive environment; they will be paid enough to support them into first-step accommodation; and it will give them vital skills to go on to further employment and build their own lives.
“I am now officially one year and four months in to my apprenticeship and have been given a new job role within the organisation, with more responsibility and important tasks now coming under my job role. I feel ready to face my working career now… Speaking as an apprentice myself I would say that that coupled with the amazing staff and people I get to meet, it makes The Reader Organisation the best place I or any of our future apprentices could hope to work at.” Niall Gibney, Community Fundraising Assistant
The Reader Apprentice programme will be focused on developing these core competencies:
- Social: Social Awareness and Social Skills
- Emotional Resilience: The ability to cope with rebuffs which may be short-term or shocks which consume long periods of time
- Enterprise & Creativity: The ability to shape situations, imagine alternatives, remain open to new ideas, problem-solve and work in teams
- Discipline: Inner discipline to pursue goals and the ability to cope with external discipline
No formal qualifications will be required to enter the Reader Apprentice programme. The Reader Organisation will look to recruit individuals with some spark, or a desire to make something of their lives, or with passion to learn or to change, and with one or more of the following soft capabilities: self-management, team work, problem solving, application of IT, communication, literacy, application of numeracy, and business/customer awareness.
SUPPORT US: you can donate to the Reader Apprentice scheme safely and securely through our Virgin Money Giving site or by sending us a cheque (made payable to ‘The Reader Organisation’).
The 2012 Santa Dash
On Sunday 2nd December, 13 brave Reader Runners will be taking on one of the biggest fun runs in the world: the Liverpool Santa Dash. They will be donning their santa suits and running 5k in the freezing cold, all to raise money for The Reader Organisation’s Apprenticeship for Life Campaign.Training has begun in earnest and we need your help!
SUPPORT US: Please help us take on this challenge for such a worthy cause by sponsoring us on our Charity Giving Page: http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/trosantadash2012
Keep track of our progress by visiting the blog.
The Three Peaks Challenge
On Saturday 30th June, 15 staff members from TRO completed The Three Peaks Challenge, conquering the highest peak in Scotland, the highest peak in England, and the highest peak in Wales.It was an immense physical and psychological challenge; they faced snow, rain, lashing winds and travelling miles in a cramped and rickety minibus. Despite all this, they emerged battered but victorious in just over twenty four hours and raised over £9000 for the apprenticeship campaign, completely demolishing their £5000 target.
A huge congratulations to the everyone involved and thank you for donating so generously; your kind support provided the motivation to complete the climb.
Why not head over to our blog to revisit some of the training diaries?
Legacies
A gift that lasts.
An alternative and effective way to give to The Reader Organisation is in a legacy. We are deeply indebted to those who give a gift in their Will to help us carry on our work in the future.
Becoming a Supporter
There are many ways, big and small, that you can support the Reading Revolution.