On this World Book Day® 2024, we are delighted to announce that AtkinsRéalis has become a Chapter One Gold Partner. World Book Day is about getting more children, from all backgrounds, developing a life-long habit of reading for pleasure, benefitting from the improved life chances this brings them. Becoming a Chapter One Gold Partner recognises the significant commitment - both financial and with volunteers - that AtkinsRéalis has pledged in providing a minimum of 5-9 teams of 10 volunteers (50+ volunteers) to read with children participating in the Chapter One Online Reading Volunteers Programme.

AtkinsRéalis colleagues have already donated over 200 hours of voluntary reading support to disadvantaged young people from across the UK. Becoming a Gold Partner will build on this commitment and will see AtkinsRéalis supporting schools and students in four geographical regions. AtkinsRéalis will also join Mace Dragados, Fieldfisher and Clyde & Co as one of founding partners in supporting Chapter One’s extension to Birmingham schools in September 2024.

“We are delighted that AtkinsRéalis has agreed to enhance their support to us this year. The need for Chapter One is greater than ever as the cost-of-living pressures on families compound the problems of the pandemic. Those who struggle with reading are falling even further behind and will benefit enormously from this additional reading practice with their own personal 1:1 reading volunteer,” said Emma Bell, CEO, Chapter One

Dan Heffernan, Strategic Social Value Lead at AtkinsReális, said:

“At AtkinsRéalis we understand the importance of creating resilient, aspirational and thriving communities. That is why it is vitally important to work with the education sector not only from an engineering and development perspective, but also to support future generations to build a legacy for themselves and those around them.

Young people who leave school without good literacy skills are held back at every stage of life and their outcomes are poorer on almost every measure, from health and wellbeing to employment and finance. We’re really looking forward to becoming one of Chapter One’s Gold Partners as it means we can extend our commitment to support local communities and young people, which we are able to do through initiatives such as our volunteer days.

We also look forward to continuing our partnership with Chapter One in the months and years ahead, as our colleagues help to improve the literacy and lives of young people in the communities we serve.”

Find out more!

Chapter One’s virtual, time-efficient, flexible model for volunteering will enhance your company’s employee value proposition, whilst fulfilling CSR or social value commitments around education, social mobility and inclusion. Employees can:

- volunteer online directly from their desks with no travel

- make a direct impact on the lives of disadvantaged children

- support local communities across the UK

- improve their own well-being by helping others

- reconnect with your company’s social purpose

Interested in joining us? We’d love to hear from you! You’ll find out who we currently work with on our partners’ page. You can contact us here or email sarah.taylor@chapterone.org.