On Wednesday 24 June, we are excited to host our annual Partner, Volunteer and School Recognition Awards in London. During this special evening, we will be celebrating the remarkable achievements of our community - recognising the dedication of our volunteers, the support of our partners, and the collaboration with our schools that makes it possible for us to provide children with one-to-one reading support at the time they need it most.

This year's ceremony takes place during the National Year of Reading 2026, in which Chapter One is proud to serve as a lead delivery partner. It is also a moment to mark the progress of our One Million Stories by 2030 campaign - which tracks the stories shared between volunteers and children since 2018, as we work collectively towards reaching one million by the end of the decade. Every story celebrated during the evening is part of that count.

We are enormously grateful to our Gold Partner Janus Henderson Investors for generously hosting this celebration and enabling those unable to attend in person to join us virtually for the presentations.

The award shortlists 🏆

Outstanding Volunteer Award 2025-26 (reading with one child)

This award recognises the volunteer who has shared the most stories with a child this year

Shortlisted:

• Melissa Birkhead, Bloomsbury

• James Blaney, Royal London

• Linda Hellard, Deloitte

• Sunita Patel, Turner & Townsend

• Jordan Russell, Amentum

Outstanding Volunteer Award 2025-26 (supporting more than one child)

This award recognises the volunteer who has shared the most stories with two or more children this year

Shortlisted:

• Lucy Hollings, Eversheds Sutherland

• Elisabeth Pickles, Tutorfair

• Jenna Strain, Altrad Integrity Services

• Luke Taylor, Severfield

• Jake Todd, Atos

Reading Commitment Award 2025-26

This award celebrates the corporate partner team that provided the highest number of stories read per volunteer

Returning partner

Shortlisted:

• Arup

• Balfour Beatty

• CACI

• Compare the Market

• T.Rowe Price

New partner

Shortlisted:

• Alfred H Knight

• BPCE Equipment Solutions

• OCU Group

• Saba Park Services

• Stephenson Harwood

Volunteer Growth Award 2025-26

This award celebrates the partner with the highest increase in volunteer numbers since last year

Returning partner

Shortlisted:

• Cavendish Nuclear
  

• Eversheds Sutherland

• Irwin Mitchell

• Mott MacDonald

• Serco

New partner

Shortlisted:

• BDO

• Bouygues UK

• Kingsley Napley

• Nomura
  

• Saffery

Outstanding Teacher Award 2025-26

Shortlisted:

• Zine Brew, Grasslot Infant School, West Cumbria

• Claire Buxton, Haveley Hey Community School, Manchester

• Emma Gaunt, Broadfield Community Primary School, Manchester

• Maj Islam, Thomas Buxton Primary School, Tower Hamlets, London

• Yvonne Woolley, Roselands Infants' School, East Sussex

Outstanding School Award 2025-26

4+ classrooms:

Shortlisted:

• Broadfield Community Primary School, Manchester

• Hillstone Primary School, Birmingham

• Leighton Primary School, Peterborough

• Paston Ridings Primary School, Peterborough

• Richmond Hill Primary School, West Cumbria

3 classrooms or less:

Shortlisted:

• Broughton Moor Primary School, West Cumbria

• Evelyn Street Primary Academy & Nursery, Warrington

• Five Ashes Church of England Primary School, East Sussex

• Summerville Primary School, Salford

• Woodfield Primary School, Doncaster

Above and Beyond Award 2025-26

Shortlisted:

• Euromonitor International

• FactSet

• Janus Henderson Investors

• Rothschild & Co

• Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation

• T.Rowe Price

Chapter One Champion Award 2025-26

Shortlisted:

• Becky Kerr, Amentum

• Julie Lawton-Kellett, Deloitte

• Paulina Nabazaite, Nomura

• Simon Peacock, Sir Robert McAlpine

• Eliane Pepper, Heidelberg Materials UK

• Cristiana Veloso, Ayvens

Child's Voice Award 2025-26

Winner to be announced on the night!

Join us!

Want to join us on 24 June? There are limited in-person spaces left, so if you'd like to join us in London, please contact hellouk@chapterone.org or register here to join us on Teams.

Celebration details

Date: Wednesday 24 June, 2026

Timing for in-person reception: 5pm for 5.30pm – 8pm, drinks and canapes will be served (presentations starting at 6.15pm, followed by more time to meet other guests)

Dress code for in-person guests: Business Casual

Timing and details for virtual attendance: 6:15pm - 7:30pm (approximately)

In-person location: Janus Henderson Investors, 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE
(nearest tube/train station is Liverpool Street)