National charity calls for volunteers to help children with reading in local School

CORAM Beanstalk, a national children's charity with over 50 years' experience of supporting children to become confident, independent readers, is looking for volunteers in Southport, especially in the:- Meols Cop, Churchtown and High Park area.

At Coram Beanstalk, they believe that every child has potential. But for many, limited 1 to 1 support, a lack of books that reflect their interests and a home without reading advocates can make learning to read feel like building a Lego castle without the instructions.

The charity trains and supports community volunteers to give children something powerful; time, connection and joy; a shared love of books and the opportunity to dream. By spending time each week, building relationships that go far beyond the pages of a book, our reading helpers follow the child's:- pace, share laughter, listen deeply, and create a space where children choose to read and build essential skills for a brighter future.

Volunteers at Coram Beanstalk find purpose and community in helping children grow in confidence and ability. And they're never doing it alone, with:- expert training, ongoing support, and a strong community behind them, they feel equipped and valued from day 1.

All their partner Schools receive a starter pack of Beanstalk Brilliant Books so their volunteers can introduce children to a wide variety of engaging resources and help each child to find and explore their own identity as a reader.

They believe every child deserves the magic of books and the opportunity of a bright future but they need volunteers to join them in order to reach those children.

Amy Lewis, Head of Coram Beanstalk, said:- "Reading is such a fundamental skill for children to develop during their early years, but children who find it a struggle and don't have an adult to read with on a regular basis can start to fall behind their peers, which can lead to a loss of confidence and reading enjoyment. Evidence shows, that when children not only can read but choose to read, they not only achieve more academically across the whole curriculum, but they also benefit from improved well-being and go on to experience greater success in life. And that's where Coram Beanstalk reading helpers can really make a difference."

She continued:- "We need to fill vacancies in settings locally, especially in the PR9 postcode area of Southport and we can only reach more children by recruiting new reading helpers. Each volunteer will receive training and will support on average 3 children for 20-30 minutes, at least once a week. It really is such a fulfilling and meaningful volunteering role which transforms lives, so please get in touch today if you think you can help."

Quote from 1 of our reading helpers:- "I had no idea how much it would come to mean to me, literally the best thing I have ever done (after a long career with various 'good causes'). I think the children are truly amazing and I look forward to seeing them each week. It's always such a joy to see them grow in confidence and discover that books can be fun and enjoyable!"

If you would be interested in becoming a reading helper in a local School, please visit their website for more information or give them a call on:- 02077294087.

Merseyside Seaside Towns Ranked Among UK's Most Entrepreneurial Coastal Communities

MERSEYSIDE is home to 2 of the UK's most entrepreneurial seaside towns and Villages, with Formby ranking 2nd and Southport 6th in a GoDaddy ranking of the country's fastest growing coastal business communities. New research finds microbusiness density in the 10 fastest-growing coastal areas rose at more than twice the UK rate between:- 2024 and 2026.

The GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, a multi year study of more than:- 600,000 UK companies with fewer than:- 10 employees, maps microbusiness density using local population and tracks change over time. The latest figures reveal strong entrepreneurial momentum across the UK's coastal communities, with both Formby and Southport among the country's standout performers.

Merseyside rides the wave of seaside entrepreneurship

Formby ranked 2nd in GoDaddy's list of the UK's Most Entrepreneurial Seaside Towns and Villages, recording:- 21% growth in microbusiness density between:- 2024 and 2026. Southport also featured prominently, ranking 6th with growth of:- 18%.

Redcar topped the rankings with:- 21% growth, while Troon in South Ayrshire and Cullen in Aberdeenshire ranked:- 3rd and 4th respectively at:- 19%. Grange Over Sands in Cumbria placed:- 5th, also at 19%. Southport followed in 6th place at 18%. Overall, the 10 leading seaside constituencies averaged:- 18% growth, more than double the UK average of 8%.

Record summer fuels visits and local spending

The Met Office provisionally confirmed that summer 2026 was the UK's hottest since records began, and a GoDaddy poll commissioned in September 2026 suggests the exceptional weather encouraged more Britons to visit the coast.

Of 2,000 adults, 44% said they visited a UK Seaside Town during the summer heatwaves, while 57% said they spent more time there than in previous summers. 55% said they prioritise spending with local small businesses during seaside visits, and 71% said a good range of independent shops, caf�s and businesses is important when deciding where to visit.

Seaside success stretches nationwide

While Formby and Southport are among the UK's fastest-growing seaside business communities, cCastal Towns from:- North Yorkshire to Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire and Dorset also feature in the top 10.

The UK's Most Entrepreneurial Seaside Villages and Towns

Rank Seaside Town / Village Growth in microbusiness density 2024 to 2026

1 Redcar 21%

2 Formby 21%

3 Troon 19%

4 Cullen 19%

5 Grange-over-Sands 19%

6 Southport 18%

7 Skegness 17%

8 Saltburn-by-the-Sea 16%

9 Herne Bay 16%

10 Christchurch 15%

Research by GoDaddy and Frontier Economics links a:- 10% rise in microbusiness density to an additional:- �360 in median annual pay:- 5.1 extra jobs per 1,000 residents, and more than:- �26 million in added GDP for a typical local authority of:- 200,000 people.

Alexandra Rosen, GoDaddy's Small Business Economist, said:- "What's particularly striking is the rate of growth of new ventures in the seaside communities:- 7% of small UK hospitality firms - caf�s, pubs, restaurants and BnBs we most closely associate with the seaside economy - were launched in 2026 alone. 11% have been established since the start of 2025. We're not simply seeing long established seaside businesses benefiting from a good summer, but growing evidence that entrepreneurs choose coastal communities as places to start and build businesses. While people often assume the decision is primarily financial, our data suggests independence is a far more powerful motivation. 20% hospitality business owners say their main reason for starting a business was to be their own boss, compared with just:- 11% who said they did it because they believed they could earn more money. The top 5 reasons are rounded out with more flexibility, pursuing a passion and fun. Seaside towns undoubtedly benefit from tourism, but for many founders they also offer an attractive lifestyle, strong community connections and the opportunity to build something of their own. It underlines what we call the Empowerment Economy:- there's simply no bad place to launch a business, whether that's a major City, a commuter town or a stretch of coast."

News reports located on this page = 2.

National charity calls for volunteers to help children with reading in local School

Merseyside Seaside Towns Ranked Among UK's Most Entrepreneurial Coastal Communities