Reading Buddies - Winter 2026 Session

Reading Buddies is a program designed to support children in grades 1 to 6 to build reading confidence and their love of reading. If you are in grade 9 or higher, have a passion for reading, enjoy working with children and giving back to your community, this is an opportunity for you!

Reading Buddies will run as a scheduled group program. Volunteers will be assigned to one of three library locations—Bowmanville, Newcastle, or Courtice—and will participate in weekly 1-hour sessions with a group of students and fellow volunteers.

All sessions will take place in person, at the same time each week, for 8-10 weeks. Please see the program times for each location below, starting the week of February 15th.

Courtice Library - Tuesdays, 5-6 pm: Feb 17 - May 12 (no session March 17)
Newcastle Library - Wednesdays, 6-7 pm: Feb 18 - May 13 (no session March 18)
Bowmanville Library - Thursdays 4-5 pm: Feb 19 - May 14 (no session March 19)

Volunteers must be available to attend 8-10 sessions at their assigned location and time. Applicants will be asked to indicate their location preference during the interview process.

Volunteers must either:

Be currently enrolled in a Clarington-area secondary school, or be an adult able to provide a Vulnerable Sector Check.

Selected applicants will be invited to an interview and must attend a mandatory training and orientation session on February 4th, 2026  prior to the program start.


Application deadline for the Winter 2026 session: January 9th.