Bermuda's youngsters will get help fine-tuning their reading skills thanks to a project which links schools and the local community.

Twelve staff at Argus Insurance Company are volunteering to read with CedarBridge Academy students.

The Literary Project was started by the school's reading specialist Margie Jarvis in February and it brings members of the community to the classroom to both read and listen to the students.

The programme's goals are to promote reading as a fun activity while boosting the students' confidence.

Volunteers go through a six hour training course where they receive instruction in learning theory, reading skills development, behaviour management and the objectives of the literacy project.

They are then committed to spend a minimum of half an hour a week reading aloud with an assigned student.

The Argus group of volunteers spend two hours a week with their students and the company offers them an extra half an hour added to their lunch hour on these days in order for them to eat and get back to work.

The project has been so successful that Mrs. Jarvis is encouraging companies such as Argus to volunteer together.

CedarBridge student Amber Bradshaw, 14, said: "It has been fun and it has helped me to read better.'' And Samantha Wilson, also 14, pointed out the programme's other benefits.

"You get to read out loud and no one gets to laugh at you,'' she explained.

Third-year pupil Shavon Taylor said he and his reading assistant had been "reading and getting to know each other''.

Mrs. Jarvis said that students always read with the same volunteer so they could establish a strong relationship.

"It means a lot to the students that people they don't even know are giving up their time to come and read with them,'' she said.

Some students volunteer to be in the programme while others who may need extra help or support are recommended by teachers.

READING RIGHT -- Argus Insurance Company employee Charmaine Richardson and CedarBridge student Shaki Moniz reading together as part of the Literacy Project.