Parishes Achieving Change Together needs more volunteers in order to run a reading programme at Francis Patton School.

So far 15 people give up free time to be part of PACT?s Volunteer Literacy Tutor Initiative. The volunteers have undergone training and now work with individual students at the school.

The programme is intended to foster a love of reading and improve the students? literacy and competency levels. The school has identified students who need additional practise and motivation in reading and paired them with volunteers.

PACT is a community-wide initiative that aims to help neighbourhoods develop a set of programmes that actively promote healthy development in youth. The group bases its programmes on ?Communities That Care? research. The research outlines the risk factors that can lead children to engage in anti-social behaviour and preventative programmes that communities can implement to reduce the risks of such behaviour.

With the reading programme PACT wants to reach kids before they lose interest in academics and begin acting out.

The 2003 National Drug Commission?s Youth Survey of Bermuda Middle and Senior School students stated that academic failure beginning in late elementary school can lead to anti-social behaviour. Research has also shown that considerable progress can be made in student motivation and achievement when community members provide one-on-one reading programmes at schools. Along with the volunteers Swiss Reinsurance Company and the Bermuda High School for Girls have become involved in the Francis Patton School programme.

The next training sessions for volunteers are March 1, 8 and 15 from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Anyone interested should contact co-ordinator Romelle Warner on 293-2742 or e-mail wwarneribl.bm.