Oxfordshire's award-winning children’s literacy charity Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh) will receive £1,000 towards its work with children in the Abingdon and Wantage areas.

ARCh trains, resources and supports volunteers to work one-to-one with selected children in primary schools across the county, the aim being to instil a life enhancing love of reading over the course of a year.

Read again: Councillor slams LTNs as 'betrayal'

Jane Rendle, co-founder of ARCh said “For small charities like us, grants like this go a long way. The Covid pandemic and disruption to schooling over the last two years has had such a detrimental effect on children’s reading ability, their social and communication skills and their well-being, with the most disadvantaged children particularly badly affected.

“We are therefore facing a bigger demand for our service than ever before and so grateful to receive help from Tesco.

Read more: Newsagent to close after 80 years

“We’re appealing to individuals and local businesses to join us in our mission to help children catch up. Full information is on our website www.archoxfordshire.org.uk”

Claire de Silva, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “Tesco Community Grants help support local good causes like ARCh and especially those projects supporting young people, those providing food, and local causes close to our colleagues’ hearts.”

Tesco Community Grants is run in partnership with community focused charity Groundwork.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF