Local Birmingham children's author Ben Davis will be joining Coram Beanstalk at a special event today (Tuesday 11 October) at the Birmingham & Midland Institute to talk about his books and answer questions. The free event will take place in the Charles Dickens room from 10am where coffee will be served before Ben gives his talk between 10:30am – 11:30am.
Ben, a former stand-up comedian and sketch writer, writes funny books for older children and teenagers. His first book, The Private Blog of Joe Cowley, has been hailed as a Wimpy Kid for a new generation. He has also written standalone books for younger readers, like the supervillain tale, Danny Dread, and the critically acclaimed My Embarrassing Dad's Gone Viral.
This event is also a chance to find out more about opportunities to volunteer as a Coram Beanstalk reading helper in local Birmingham schools. There is a particularly high demand in Birmingham with 70 children in 14 schools waiting to receive vital reading support, and 22 volunteers needed.
In the wake of the disruption to children’s education caused by the pandemic, recent research by the Education Policy Institute found that children in the Midlands suffered greater learning losses than those living in other regions. Worryingly, primary schools under greater financial pressure are increasingly losing teaching assistants who often provide extra reading support for children who need it. This makes the work of Coram Beanstalk volunteer reading helpers more crucial than ever, helping to boost children’s confidence and attainment as well as inspire a love of reading.
As well as providing important support to children and schools, Coram Beanstalk volunteer reading helpers find it personally rewarding to develop a rapport with the children and become part of the school community. Christine Tooth, who volunteers at Greenholm Primary School in Birmingham, said: "Volunteering is like playing bat and ball; they give me a sense of purpose and well-being which I try to return to them. Seeing children grow in confidence with their reading and personal development is a wonderfully satisfying experience."
Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk, said: “It is fantastic to have Ben supporting us with this event. Our reading helpers really enjoy author talks and with Ben’s humorous approach, this promises to be a good one! Reading helpers make a huge difference to children’s lives and education outcomes. If you’re a keen reader and have some spare time, what could be better than inspiring that love of reading in a child and witnessing the progress they make.”
From application to introduction to a local Birmingham school, the whole recruitment journey for new volunteers is currently averaging 30 days from application to completing training and DBS checks.
Tickets to the Ben Davis author event can booked via Coram Beanstalk. Alternatively, to find out more about Coram volunteer reading helper opportunities, Coram Beanstalk staff will be on hand between 12pm – 1:30pm, with no need to book. For more information on becoming a volunteer, visit Coram Beanstalk's website.
