Claudia’s story

I had been thinking for a while that I wanted to do something with kids and reading, and I didn’t know how to find anything.

I looked all around and there was a little sign that mentioned Doorstep Library. I thought, That’s it. There we go. I got in touch and everybody was incredibly welcoming. Once I got started, everything was smooth. The self-paced training materials were really helpful. I think the online reading-with-kids option gives flexibility, so if I’m away, I can still do it remotely. You don’t want to let the kids down by missing a week.

Reading was really important in my life as a kid. My mother was a librarian at my school when I was little, so she would pick interesting books for me to read. She found books about famous women because she wanted me to see that I could do anything in life. My sister and I also read together with our mum. I remember we read Little Women and each took a chapter. I was the littlest, so I always felt a little pressure because I wasn’t as good a reader, but it helped me become a confident public speaker in my career.

I’ve always loved reading. But now I look at children’s books more than I would have before – I even ask friends for ideas for little kids. It makes me realise how important it is for them to have a good story. When I look at the books we have now, I think there has been progress. I’m always struck by what books the kids select. A lot of them are fantasy –books about wizards and magic. I love that because anything that takes kids away from the day-to-day is terrific. It makes them feel like they have power, even magical power, and that they can be anything.

Interacting with children and families has been easy. When I started, my volunteer partner had read with these families for a long time, so they knew him. I just slotted in. The kids are very sweet.

One of my favourite moments was when a little boy said, “But I like reading it with you,” after I told him he could read his book between sessions. That was a winner. It shows they look forward to engaging in the book with us.

My favourite thing about being a Doorstep Library volunteer is how easy you’ve made it. The dashboard and notes make it simple to jump in and feel prepared. If I forget something, help is just a message away. That makes a big difference because you don’t want to feel lost in front of the kids.

I love that they get to build their own little library; it’s something that’s theirs, and that’s really lovely.

Find out more about volunteering and role descriptions at Doorstep Library

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A little of your time can open up whole new worlds for someone else. Find out how you can support learners and be part of the National Year of Reading across 2026.

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