We are Doorstep Library, a community-focused literacy charity dedicated to bringing the magic of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children from disadvantaged areas of London, who need our support.
Our work is concentrated in areas where we know opportunities for reading are restricted – there may be limited access to books in the home or language barriers may be preventing parents or guardians from being able to provide additional reading support to the children in their care.
Equipped with a reading stool and a supply of books, our volunteers are right there on the doorstep, in person or online, ready to help. We use books to fuel children’s natural love of stories, fire their imaginations, and encourage their appreciation of reading. Our ultimate goal is to help them develop the self-confidence and essential skills they need to access all the opportunities that will come their way in life. Our projects not only improve literacy and confidence in children, but they increase family wellbeing and bonding through the joy of sharing stories. Our impact is long-lasting.
For us, the ‘happy ever after’ is when we know the power of literacy and the joy of reading are helping a child change their own story for good.
Doorstep Library is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and all those it comes into contact with. All volunteers undergo rigorous safer recruitment processes including specified interview questions, a DBS check, and the collection of written and/or verbal references. Safeguarding training is a mandatory part of the induction process for all volunteers, and they are expected to always adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures.
We look forward to hearing from you.
This depends on your volunteering role. As a Home Reading Volunteer you’ll read with children in person in one of our locations in Camden, Ealing, Lambeth, Westminster or Hammersmith & Fulham. You’ll be able to choose which location works best for you. Online Reading Volunteers can log onto their reading sessions via Zoom from anywhere in the UK. However, all volunteers must be based in the UK, so that we can carry out an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for working with children.
As a regular volunteer you will visit the same families on the same day and at the same time every week. If you are a Home Reading Volunteer you can volunteer on either a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday during school term time and will start at 4.30 pm and finish at 7.00 pm. If you are an Online Reading Volunteer you can volunteer on either a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday during school term time and will start at 4.30 pm and finish at 6.30 pm. Ideally, you should be able to commit for at least nine months.
If you can’t volunteer regularly, you can become a stand-in volunteer. Our stand-ins step in when a regular reader can’t come to a session. We ask Stand-in Volunteers to volunteer once every 3 weeks during school term time. This is a lot more flexible and it’s a great opportunity to meet and work with different volunteers and families.
The main aim of our reading sessions is to inspire a love of books, of stories and storytelling, and to instil a lifelong love of reading. This helps prepare children for school and broadens their opportunities in later life.
As a Home Reading Volunteer, you’ll visit the same five families each week and spend 20 minutes reading and engaging with each family. You’ll also bring the children a few extra books to leave behind, making sure that they always have enough to read at home in between the sessions. As an Online Reading Volunteer, you’ll read with the same three families each week, again spending 20 minutes reading and engaging with each family via Zoom.
Our reading sessions are all about bringing the gift of books and the joy of reading into the home. We don’t have set attainment goals, the sessions should be fun for both children and volunteers and friendly chats, reading with silly voices or playing a little game is very much encouraged!
Our volunteering journey begins with registering your interest after which we will send you an application form to fill out. Once completed we’ll get to know you better in an interview via Zoom. We’ll also help you complete an enhanced DBS check and you’ll be asked to provide the names of two referees. The last step is completing your training and after that, you’ll be ready to be matched with a volunteering partner and start reading! Register your interest now!
Absolutely, we provide separate training programmes for Home and Online Reading volunteers which include pre-recorded training videos that you can watch at home in your own time and at your own pace, followed by a live interactive training session via Zoom. The training covers topics like basic rules and principles, safeguarding, and plenty of advice on how to make reading sessions engaging and build a relationship with the children and families.
Throughout your volunteering, you’ll be getting lots of support from your Team Leader as well as other volunteers. We’ll be always happy to hear your feedback, answer any questions and respond to any concerns.
Volunteers gain as much from their weekly reading sessions as they give, often citing the day as the highlight of their week! Volunteering not only offers vital support to those who need it most, but it’s impact also extends to the volunteers themselves. Being a volunteer allows you to connect with the local community, build new relationships and learn new skills. As well as greatly improving your mental health and wellbeing.
Our volunteering opportunities are also highly useful for those considering professions in primary education, social and community work.
If you have any further enquiries please contact our team.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Our Euston project sits within the borough of Camden. We currently operate three projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11. We also offer Online Reading sessions to families across Camden.
Nearest Station: Euston (Victoria/Northern), Great Portland Street (Metropolitan/Hammersmith & City/Circle), Regents Park (Bakerloo)
Thursday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Chalk Farm project sits within the borough of Camden where we’ve started supporting families. We currently offer on-the-ground reading projects to local families with children aged 0 – 11, and we are also offering Online Reading Sessions to families across Camden.
Nearest Station: Chalk Farm (Northern)
Days and times of operation:
Tuesday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Somers Town project sits within the borough of Camden where we’ve just started supporting families. We currently only offer on-the-ground reading projects to local families with children aged 0 – 11, but we are offering Online Reading Sessions to families across Camden.
Nearest Station: Kings Cross (Circle, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Northern, Metropolitan and Victoria)
Days and times of operation:
Monday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Edgware Road project sits within the borough of Westminster where we have been supporting families for four years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Edgware Road tube station (Circle, District and Hammersmith & City lines)
Days and times of operation:
Monday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Marylebone project sits within the borough of Westminster where we have been supporting families for four years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Marylebone (Bakerloo line)
Days and times of operation:
Thursday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Queen’s Park project sits within the borough of Westminster where we have been supporting families for four years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Queen’s Park (Bakerloo line)
Days and times of operation:
Monday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Pimlico projects sit within the borough of Westminster where we have been supporting families for four years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Pimlico (Victoria line)
Days and times of operation:
Tuesday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Brixton project sits within the borough of Lambeth where we have been supporting families for two years now. We currently operate four projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-3. These projects have an early years focus and are run in partnership with LEAP (Lambeth Early Years Partnership).
Nearest Station: Brixton (Victoria line)
Days and times of operation:
Tuesday – 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Thursday – 4.30pm – 7:00pm
Our Tulse Hill projects sit within the borough of Lambeth where we have been supporting families for two years now. We currently operate four projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-3. These projects have an early years focus and are run in partnership with LEAP (Lambeth Early Years Partnership).
Nearest Station: Tulse Hill overground (Southern and Thameslink rail)
Days and times of operation:
Monday – 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Tuesday – 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Our East Acton project sits within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where we have been supporting families for over ten years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: East Acton (Central line)
Days and times of operation:
Monday – 3:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Our Parsons Green project sits within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where we have been supporting families for over ten years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Parsons Green (District line)
Days and times of operation:
Tuesday – 3:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Our Shepherd’s Bush project sits within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where we have been supporting families for over ten years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Shepherd’s Bush (Central line)
Days and times of operation:
Thursday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Our Hammersmith project sits within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where we have been supporting families for over ten years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Hammersmith (District and Piccadilly line)
Days and times of operation:
Thursday – 3:45 pm – 6:30 pm
Our Fulham Broadway project sits within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where we have been supporting families for over ten years now. We currently operate five projects in the borough, sharing books and reading with children aged 0-11.
Nearest Station: Fulham Broadway (District line)
Days and times of operation:
Tuesday – 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm