A Dorset-based building firm has donated thousands of pounds to help youngsters improve their reading.

McCarthy and Stone has teamed up with Coram Beanstalk- a charity which recruits and trains volunteers to deliver consistent, one-to-one reading support to children aged between 3-13 in order to improve reading ability and confidence.

The building firm has showed its support for the charity by making a £15,000 donation.

John Tonkiss, chief executive officer at McCarthy and Stone, said: "Coram Beanstalk is a fantastic charity. I recently met a number of the reading volunteers. They clearly enjoy helping the children and it was inspiring to see how passionate and enthusiastic they are about Coram Beanstalk.

"Our initial donation really is just the start. The choice to work with the charity not only gives our staff and customers the opportunity to make a difference by raising vital funds, it also opens up the possibility of participating in the rewarding act of volunteering as a reading helper. At McCarthy and Stone we are committed to enriching the lives of our customers, and it is clear both young and old stand to benefit from the intergenerational connections made during these sessions."

Ginny Lunn, managing director of Coram Beanstalk, said: "We are so grateful for the generous donation McCarthy and Stone has made to start the fundraising activities, and we are all very excited about this partnership. The work we do is very important as our volunteers play a vital role in introducing young children to the world of books and stories.

"McCarthy & Stone’s support this year is timely as we celebrate two years of ‘Story Starters’, a reading programme delivered by Coram Beanstalk to train volunteers to work specifically with children aged from three to five, and hopefully inspire them to embrace the world of literacy from the earliest stages of their childhood."

Its team in Dorset now aims to raise additional funds throughout the year via a mix of fundraising events across its developments in the area, which include Bowes Lyon Court in Poundbury and Clarendon House in Poole. Staff and customers in Dorset will also be encouraged to volunteer their time in support of the charity’s work.