MORE volunteers are needed to help children improve their reading skills.

Julie Hilling, MP for Bolton West, has joined the call for more people to join children’s reading charity Beanstalk after she met some of their members at Atherton St George’s Primary School.

The charity works across the country, taking reading sessions with primary school students on a one-to-one basis.

Ms Hilling met Pat Carey, who has been volunteering with Beanstalk for 15 years, and the organisation’s recruitment and training executive Lucy Holland at the school in Derby Street.

She said: “It was great to join such enthusiastic children at Atherton St George’s and take a reading session with Beanstalk’s fantastic volunteers.

“Beanstalk do such fabulous work in our local schools training their volunteers to encourage our next generations the value of reading. All the children’s faces lit up when they were all given a copy of Jack and the Beanstalk, which they will now take home to enjoy.

“Beanstalk does a great job in boosting the children’s confidence and self-esteem, and all the children have made really good progress.

“Talking to the volunteers from Beanstalk, particularly Pat Carey who has been there for fifteen years, they relish their work with the children.”

To find out more, contact Beanstalk by calling 0161 814 9515 or visit their website beanstalkcharity.org.uk.