AN MP went back to the classroom to see the first-hand the positive impact a literacy charity is having in the region.

Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, joined pupils at Guisborough’s Belmont Primary School to see for himself the difference that volunteers from the Beanstalk charity are making.

Beanstalk currently has 125 volunteer reading helpers across the North-East who have helped over 475 children with their literacy skills in the last year.

The charity is seeing increasing demand from schools for its services and is actively recruiting new reading helpers across the Tees Valley and East Cleveland.

Mr Clarke said: “Boosting literacy is a vital issue of social justice and Beanstalk and its volunteers are making a huge difference in my constituency.

Chris Gibson, headteacher at Belmont Primary School rpaised the reading volunteers, describeing them as “terrific”.

To enquire about volunteering and for more information, visit beanstalkcharity.org.uk or contact 0845-4500307.