A CHARITY that helps children across Oxfordshire to read has been award a £1,000 bundle of new books.

Bookworms will be excited to hear that Bicester -based charity ARCh, assisted reading for children, has been donated all sorts of stories from phonics Fat Cat on the Mat, to picture puzzle books.

The cause hopes children will continue to get lost in the world of fiction thanks to the generous donation from publisher Usbourne.

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ARCh development manager Jane Rendle said: "We were absolutely delighted to receive such a generous donation of resources from Usborne 'Books at Home' organiser Elizabeth Lawson.

"The books are really attractive and ideal for hooking the reluctant readers we work with.

"Our volunteers can’t wait to share them with the children they support."

It comes as the charity, whose volunteers work across Oxfordshire's school to provided assisted reading help, was named Usborne Oxford organiser’s charity of the year.

The group invited Elizabeth Lawson, of Usbourne Publishing, to a book swap meeting it held on Tuesday at Kidlington Baptist Church where they were presented with the new book bundle.

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Ms Lawson said: "As an independent Usborne organiser I am able to work with schools and nurseries to increase their libraries free of charge through a range of initiatives totally organised by me.

"Last year I decided I also wanted to have a charity of the year to which I could donate books.

"I am delighted that thanks to my customers I have been able to donate £1000 worth of books to help ARCh do what they can to support reading in schools.

"Special thanks go to the Abingdon Lions Club, in particular, which contributed £300."

The books will help towards the charity's work which involves one on one reading sessions undertaken by volunteers at various schools in Oxfordshire.

Students will often get one or two hours a week of reading assistance from a dedicated volunteer and the charity hopes it will help more children learn to read, as well as love to read.

Last year the charity had about 260 volunteers, helping about 800 children in Oxfordshire.

If you would like to volunteer with ARCh or are a business which can help with donations contact 01869 320380 or online at archoxfordshire.org.uk