Double celebration as charity turns 10 and receives prestigious Queen's Award

ABC to Read works with primary school children across the county who have been identified by their teachers as struggling to read.
Volunteers for the charity will provide support and tuition services to help improve the ability and confidence of children’s reading skills.
The charity was announced as a recipient for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award that can be given to local volunteer groups in the UK, last month, and on June 10 its chief operating and development officer, Marcia Rowlinson, received the award from the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
It comes in the same year that ABC to Read celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Ms Rowlinson said: “We are extremely honoured to have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – especially in the year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary.
“It is such an encouragement after many years of hard work, building the confidence of our local children through reading.
“Thank you very much to those who nominated us and to those who make the work that we do such a success.”
The Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Newbury, Judith Bunting, who works closely with a number of education-based charities, said: “The reading ABC to Read volunteers do with our children each week is really important.
“It's important that all our children get a good start in life. If those early roots of education are in place, children grow up with choices.
“If it isn't, especially if kids grow up without being able to read, their choices for the future are significantly limited.
“I was truly delighted to hear that the team and the volunteers at ABC have won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. It's like the MBE for voluntary work and is hugely well deserved.”
Anybody interested in becoming a volunteer for ABC to Read, or any schools interested in joining the programme, should email: abctoread@btconnect.com