Reading Volunteer - Aldershot
Do you love getting lost in a good book? Are you patient, kind, and passionate about helping others enjoy stories and conversation? Join us as a Reading Volunteer at SeeAbility and help make reading fun, inclusive, and meaningful for people with learning disabilities, autism, and sight loss.
About this Opportunity
About Us
Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK.
We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time.
SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.
What You Will Be Doing
As a Reading Volunteer, you will spend time reading with and supporting people we support to enjoy books, stories, magazines, poetry, and conversation. This could include:
- Reading aloud in a relaxed and friendly way
- Supporting people to choose books and topics they enjoy
- Encouraging communication, confidence, and imagination
- Sharing laughter, conversation, and meaningful one-to-one time
- Helping create a calm and enjoyable reading experience
Whether it’s a favourite childhood story, an audiobook, or discovering something new together, your time will help bring books to life.
The Difference You Will Make
For many people we support, reading and shared storytelling can reduce isolation, build confidence, improve communication, and create joyful moments of connection.
Your support could help someone:
- Feel more included and valued
- Develop confidence and social skills
- Discover new interests and experiences
- Enjoy companionship and meaningful interaction
- Experience the comfort and fun that stories can bring
Sometimes, simply having someone patient and understanding to spend time with can make a huge difference.
Skills Required
We are looking for volunteers who are:
- Friendly, patient, and reliable
- Empathic, understanding, and encouraging
- Passionate about books, stories, and conversation
- Good listeners with a positive attitude
- Comfortable supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and sight loss
No previous experience is required — just enthusiasm, kindness, and a love of reading.
Requirements
- Complete a DBS check
- Provide references
- Complete online training provided by SeeAbility
We will support you throughout the process.
The Benefits of Volunteering
- Gaining valuable experience and skills
- Meeting new people and becoming part of a supportive team
- Making a genuine difference in someone’s life
- Building confidence and communication skills
- Sharing your love of books and storytelling
- Receiving training and ongoing support
- We cover travel expenses up to 20 miles
Apply
If you would like to become a Reading Volunteer, we would love to hear from you.
Please apply by emailing:
[email protected]
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About the Organisation
SeeAbility
Respect is our starting point, We spark imagination, We learn together to be our best, We believe in each other
About SeeabilityAt SeeAbility, we specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities or autism, who may also have sight loss. Through our support, people live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible, whether that's forming more friendships and relationships, enjoying new experiences and activities or finding employment.We encourage people with disabilities to challenge what they expect from life, from themselves and from wider society.The people we support overcome huge barriers to achieve exciting new things every day - they challenge us all to think about what’s possible and to rethink disability.Our self-advocacy, influencing and supported employment programmes mean more people with disabilities can achieve their ambitions, while challenging assumptions, attitudes and policies.We also campaign for better eye care for people with learning disabilities, who are ten times more likely to have sight loss. In 2023, we successfully convinced the NHS to provide sight tests in all special schools so the next generation can get the eye care they need. We also work with adults to provide information, advice and to build local pathways so people can find accessible sight tests at their own opticians.Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK and has pioneered specialist support for over 225 years.VisionOur vision is for inclusive communities where people with sight loss, autism and learning disabilities participate as equal citizens.MissionOur mission is to champion and deliver ambitious support and preventative services alongside people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss, enabling them to realise their goals each and every day.ValuesWe have co-produced a new set of values with people we support, families, colleagues and trustees. They will help us work towards a ‘people first’ culture that will support us as we work to achieve our strategy. These values represent people being at the heart of the charity and being the driving force for change.
