Volunteers at Literacy Charity were recognised for their lengthy service at an assembly at Carnarvon Primary School in Bingham

Volunteers at a charity dedicated to boosting children’s reading and communication skills have been recognised for their length of service.

Literacy Volunteers was created in 1996 by Julie O’Neil and Karen Ballinger and has spent the last 28 years placing volunteers in primary schools.

It has helped thousands of children across the area to improve their reading and gain confidence which will impact their lifelong learning.

Volunteers Gaynor Preston and Elaine Hobson have been commended for their service, respectively 20 and 15 years.

Both women have been Literacy Volunteers at Carnavon Primary in Bingham for a combined 35 years.

The school hosted an assembly to recognise the volunteers' achievement in which the school headteacher Andrew Board spoke about the value and important of volunteering and the gift of reading.

He thanks Elaine and Gaynor for their commitment and dedication to helping at the school for so many years.

They go to the school once a week to support the children’s learning and make sure they have the tools needed to learn to love books and read for pleasure.

As volunteers, Gaynor and Elaine read, chat and play literacy games or puzzle sheets with selected children at the school.

They work outside the classroom and give the children one-to-one support.

“I think of all the lovely children I have met over the years and the pleasure I have had helping them with reading and especially the games we have played together, that is why I keep volunteering,” said Elaine.

Gaynor said: “I have always been made to feel so welcome at the school and I really enjoy my time helping the children.

“It is an important part of my week.”

The charity also runs Early Years free weekly storytelling sessions in areas across Nottingham city.

It helps support young children's literacy, numeracy and language development in family-run storytelling sessions until the age of five.

Families also get a free story pack containing books and art materials.

Volunteer and schools coordinator at the charity, Emma Collins said: “It is important to recognise volunteers as they are so generous with their time and are extremely valuable members of society.

“Volunteers want to help and can do so much food for so many.

“They are a good example to everyone of the generosity of spirit and the immense value of giving something back.”