Did you know that one-in-five adults don’t have the reading skills to find a plumber in the Yellow Pages? Or that more than half of all prisoners have the reading skills at or below those of an 11-year-old?

According to Beanstalk, a literacy charity helping children who find reading a struggle, poor literacy early on in a child’s education can have serious consequences in later life.

The charity is urging people to make a difference by becoming volunteer reading helpers, supporting children to become more confident readers and make a lasting impression on their education.

Beanstalk has been providing a service to primary schools for more than 40 years by recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to read with children for two 90-minute, one-to-one sessions a week for a whole school year.

The charity is now seeking more volunteers in Bradford. Anyone interested would need to give a minimum of 12 months and have a love of reading.

The scheme matches each volunteer with three children; the idea being that they build a relationship with those children, gaining their trust and helping them read, which in turn builds confidence and self-esteeem.

In 2012, one-in-six children left primary school in Bradford unable to read to the required standard.

With literacy skills linked to increased confidence and enhanced educational and employment prospects, poor reading levels can have a damaging effect on a child’s life.

According to Beanstalk, in July 2012, 1,188 children left school in Bradford with below standard abilities in reading.

“It is a tragedy that after seven years of primary education, as many as one-in-six children leaving primary school are unable to read to the required standard,” said chief executive Sue Porto. “The consequences of this in later life can be horrendous, with 60 per cent of the prison population having difficulty with basic literacy.”

The charity, which has the Duchess of Cornwall as its patron, currently supports 25 primary schools in the Bradford district.

Reading helpers come from all walks of life. Some are parents or grandparents, while others give some time around work.

“Many parents and grandparents are used to reading with children – it's a role they’re familiar with – but not all our volunteers have children,” says a Beanstalk spokesman.

“Lots of volunteers get involved with the school and become part of its community, helping out on school trips. For students interested in teaching or becoming a classroom assistant, it’s an opportunity to get into a school environment.”

Potential reading helpers attend a training programme to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to run sessions. They are supplied with books and games throughout the year to keep the children stimulated.

One volunteer, who has been a reading helper for a decade, finds it “hugely rewarding”.

She says the extra hour a week of one-to-one support usually results in fantastic progress, enabling children to catch up with their peers’ literacy levels and boosting their confidence and self-esteem along the way.

“Their teachers notice changes in attitudes to reading, learning and class participation,” she adds. “There is usually an obstacle to reading and it’s about trying to find out what it is. In some cases it’s to do with their home lives and it’s a lot to do with confidence. You don’t talk about reading, but make the sessions fun.”

For more information about becoming a Beanstalk reading helper, call 0845 4500344 or go to beanstalkcharity.org.uk.