A READING group has been given £3,000 to help boost youngsters' literacy skills.
The Reading Friends' Association of Kirklees received the money through Kirklees Council's Community Fund.
Just six volunteer readers formed the association six years ago in Bradley Junior School.
There are now 300 helping out at 47 schools around the district.
The cash will be spent on training more volunteers and buying additional books.
Volunteers sit twice a week for about an hour with youngsters who are having difficulty reading.
Some children are from ethnic minority communities who do not speak much English at home.
The helpers sit with youngsters, aged between five and nine, on a one-to-one basis.
"Teachers just don't have the time any more," said association treasurer Tom Florey. "We can see quite dramatic improvements."
One youngster he was helping had advanced his reading age by 14 months in just 10 weeks.
"In addition to improving their reading skills, the lovely thing for me is their own self-esteem and self-confidence improves quite considerably," added Mr Florey.
