We are proud to announce the appointment of author, advocate, and changemaker Jacob Dunne as our first-ever charity patron.
The appointment comes at a time of national concern around children’s literacy levels. A recent National Literacy Trust report shows that:
- Only 1 in 3 (32.7%) children aged 8–18 say they enjoy reading in their free time.
- Fewer than 1 in 5 (18.7%) read daily outside school — the lowest levels in two decades.
Locally, Nottingham continues to fall behind the national average in literacy outcomes at Key Stages 1 and 2, highlighting the urgent need for targeted, community-led support.
For almost 30 years, Literacy Volunteers has been quietly transforming lives — sending trained volunteers into schools across the county to support children who are struggling with reading. Through weekly one-to-one sessions, volunteers help young people build not only their reading skills, but also their confidence, self-esteem, and sense of possibility.
Now, with a National Year of Reading planned for 2026, we are calling for more volunteers and supporters to help ensure every primary school in Nottinghamshire can benefit from this proven model of support. The mission of Literacy Volunteers is to inspire children to develop a life-long love of reading.
Jacob Dunne – a personal story of change
Jacob Dunne, author of Right From Wrong – now the hit stage play PUNCH (currently playing at the Apollo and transferring to Broadway soon), and co-founder of the Common Ground Justice Project, brings a deeply personal connection to the Literacy Volunteers mission.
Growing up in Nottingham, Jacob struggled with dyslexia, low self-esteem, and disengagement from school — a combination that left him without qualifications and few aspirations. It wasn’t until later in life that he discovered the transformative power of reading.
“I had a very late start to reading,” Jacob says. “As a child, I wasn’t encouraged to read or write — and that led to all sorts of negative outcomes later on. Now I’m a father of two young children who are just learning to read and write, and I know how vital it is for their development.
“That’s why I’m proud to become the first patron of Literacy Volunteers. They’ve been transforming lives for 30 years, and today they’re supporting children in around 90 schools across Nottinghamshire — including my old primary school, South Wilford. We now want to get this to 362 schools: a trained volunteer in every school in the county and beyond.”
“It can be challenging for schools to find the time and resources for extra one-to-one reading support, but this charity steps in with trained volunteers to help one child at a time. I want to help raise awareness, recruit more volunteers, and show just how much reading can change a life. The subscription fee for Literacy Volunteers is excellent value for money – it helps sustain this vital work and makes a real difference where it’s needed most. Literacy Volunteers also work hard to fundraise to help subsidise the subscription fee, which is why continued funding is so vitally important.
“I want to help raise awareness, recruit more volunteers, and show just how much reading can change a life.”
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Jacob as our first patron,” says Mike Collis, Chair of Literacy Volunteers. “His journey from exclusion to education is both powerful and inspiring. He embodies our belief that literacy can change lives — and his support will help us reach even more children at a time when it’s urgently needed.”
As Literacy Volunteers approaches its fourth decade, we are calling on more local people to step forward as volunteers, donors, and partners. Our goal is to place a trained Literacy Volunteer in every Nottinghamshire primary school — especially in areas where children are falling behind in literacy and confidence.
Facebook: @literacyvolunteersnotts
Jacob Dunne https://www.jacobdunne.co.uk/
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