Time to ...

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Companies support their staff to volunteer an hour per week to work alongside Key Stage Two children (eight — ten year olds). These programmes have won both the Belfast Telegraph Business and NICVA/Camelot Link awards for Outstanding Community Involvement.

Currently 48 of Northern Ireland's leading companies participate on the 'Time to' programmes working in 63 schools across Northern Ireland.

Benefits to the company include:

• develops staff confidence
• self-esteem and communication skills
• motivates staff and enhances teamwork
• raises profile in the local community
• builds partnerships with local schools

Benefits to the schools include:

• provides an insight into the business world
• motivates and develops children academically and socially
• introduces children to a positive role model from the world of work
• enables children to work on a one-to-one basis improving communication skills

The Programmes

Time to Read is a paired reading programme engaging business volunteers on a one-to-one basis with Key Stage two children to develop them socially and emotionally as well as enhancing their literacy skills. The programme was established in 1999 and was initially championed by Northern Ireland Electricity.

Time 2 Count also focuses on children in Primary 5 — Primary 7. The aim of this programme is to motivate children to enjoy maths and to recognise it as an everyday activity. Volunteers play math based games with the children to consolidate maths learning in the classroom. Northern Bank lead this numeracy programme.

Time to Compute has been developed to help bridge the digital divide in local primary schools. Business volunteers work on a one-to-one programme with children aged 8-10 helping them to become literate in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). HP have supported the Time to Compute programme from its launch.

The Commitment

Companies involved agree to release staff for one hour a week to volunteer in a local school. Initial commitment is for one year with the option of extending and many of our volunteers are now in their fifth and sixth year. Companies involved in Time to Read and Time to Count also agree to contribute financially to help provide resources for the school (either books ormaths materials).

For more information please contact Graeme McKimm on (028) 9046 0606.