Farrans supports young readers through BITC NI’s Time to Read initiative

Two of our colleagues, Rachael Smyth and Kirby McCormack, have helped to inspire the next generation of readers by taking part in Business in the Community’s Time to Read initiative.

The award-winning volunteering programme, developed by Business in the Community and supported by the Department of Education, aims to improve literacy, foster a love of reading and build confidence and social skills among Key Stage 2 pupils in local primary schools.

Through Time to Read, volunteers give one hour each week during term time to read one-to-one with children, supporting their reading progress while also introducing them to positive role models from the world of work.

For Rachael and Kirby, the initiative is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the local community by helping children develop confidence, communication skills and enjoyment in reading from an early age.

Rachel said: “I wanted to be part of Time to Read because I love to read and it is also a key life skill. Being able to help children become more confident readers is such a blessing and very rewarding. It is heartwarming to see the children excited each week to read and I felt privileged to be able to build relationships so they felt comfortable to chat and have fun while learning. I volunteered an hour a week from January to June this year. I had two children to read with separately, the same children each week so it was lovely to be able to see their progress and build their confidence.”

Established in 1999, Time to Read has supported primary school pupils across Northern Ireland for more than two decades. Participating businesses release staff for one hour a week to volunteer in a local school, with Business in the Community providing full training and Access NI clearance.

The programme also brings wider benefits for employers, helping to develop staff confidence, self-esteem and communication skills, while strengthening teamwork and building positive partnerships with local schools.

With 100% of participating schools saying they would recommend Time to Read to another school, the initiative continues to demonstrate the value of employer-supported volunteering in education.

Kirby said: “I was very lucky and completed the volunteering in my local school that my own children attend. Before Christmas I had completed 3 ½ hour sessions with a small group of two children aged 5, who were brilliant and loved reading in general.  We took it in turns reading a book chosen by each of them. After Christmas (Jan-May) I completed 9 sessions, one with a child in P4 for 15 minutes and then one with a child in P5 for 15 minutes and they both picked the books to read. The Time to Read programme helped build my confidence and encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone. It was a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community, and I really enjoyed visiting the school to meet the children and listen to them read. It was a rewarding experience, and I hope they enjoyed it just as much as I did.”

Rachael and Kirby’s involvement reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting communities, encouraging employee volunteering and helping young people build the skills and confidence they need for the future.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Time to Read, or volunteering for one hour a week to support Key Stage 2 pupils, can click here.