"When you can't read it's like being a blind man. You have to trust people with everything."

— LVL student

Become a Literacy Volunteer

Literacy Volunteers is looking for potential tutors. There will a New Tutor Information Session on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. at the Bluffton Learning Center. The center is located at 1-B Kittie's Landing Way in Bluffton.

Click here to reserve a space in an information session. In the "Comments/Questions" box please tell us that you will attend the information session.

Further training is required beyond the information session. Training times and dates will be planned based on the response to the information session.

We Need Volunteers!

Thousands of adults in Beaufort County can't read, write or speak English. Consider becoming a trained volunteer tutor or assisting in the office or with fundraisers. LVL is looking for people who enjoy teaching people new skills, learning about different cultures, and working with diverse clientele to be trained to tutor adults improving their reading and writing skills or learning to speak, read, and write English. Each year LVL enrolls over 800 adults in Beaufort County who are looking to improve their lives through literacy. We train volunteer tutors and other volunteers for placement in Hilton Head, Bluffton, or Beaufort.

Volunteer Qualifications:

  • Age 18 or better; high school diploma or GED.
  • 15+ hours of training provided (no teaching experience necessary).
  • 4-5 hours a week commitment (tutoring and prep time), usually twice a week.
  • May tutor mornings, afternoons or evenings.
  • Don't have to speak another language to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages.
  • $40 Registration fee to help cover costs of training; scholarships available.

Types of Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Basic Literacy Tutor (reading, writing or math) - year round one-on-one
  • English Literacy Tutor - small group during the school year
  • Office Volunteer - help LVL staff with administrative tasks
  • Friend of Literacy - Help with LVL fund-and friend-raising through special event planning and execution. Annual coffee, periodic meetings, and variety of events. Suitable for part-time as well as full-time residents.
  • Board Member— In concert with other board members, governs LVL by establishing and monitoring board policy, setting strategic direction, providing fiduciary and program outcomes oversight, ensuring adequate resources, and evaluating the executive director. Serves on a standing committee.
    Board Committee Member—Non-board members with special expertise may serve on the Finance Committee or Fund Development Committee or ad-hoc committees.
  • Computer Lab tutor—Work with students as they use the computer to improve their literacy skills. Day time or evening hours; particularly need evening volunteers. Also need a tutor to teach basic computer literacy class to students. LVL tutor training required, as well as computer skills.
  • Mini class instructor—Develop and teach time-limited, thematically based mini-class. LVL’s BL Tutor Training or Conversational English Workshop required.
  • Tutor Trainer—Assist LVL’s lead trainer in training basic or English literacy volunteer tutors. Minimum one year of successful tutoring, completion of LVL’s tutor training workshop, and recommendation of program coordinator or director required. Various schedules.
  • Office volunteer—Help LVL staff with a variety of administrative tasks, e.g. answering the telephone, filing, copying, data entry, etc. One morning or afternoon a week suggested. Schedules are flexible. Suitable for part-time as well as full-time residents.
  • Landscaper/Gardener—Help keep grounds at LVL sites tidy! Flexible schedules.
  • Handyman—Help challenged LVL staff with inside repairs and maintenance
  • Substitute EL Tutor—Tutor small group of EL students in the absence of regular tutor using lesson plans prepared by tutor. LVL’s Conversational English Workshop required.
  • Computer technician and/or networker—Help resolve computer-related problems.
  • Ad hoc Expertise —What special skills do you have that you are willing to volunteer: grant writing, graphic design, social media and other marketing, technology, etc.  

 "Many of our volunteers have been able to bring skills acquired through their working years to help LVL increase the literacy of Beaufort County." (Cindi Riley) 

Ready to volunteer? Click here to download a Tutor Intake form. Print the form, complete it and return it to the nearest Literacy Center:

  • Beaufort Learning Center, 1403 Prince St. Beaufort, SC 29902. Fax: 843-521-1945. Phone: 843-525-6658

  • Bluffton Learning Center, 1-B Kittie's Landing Way or PO Box 3725, Bluffton, SC 29910. Fax: 843-815-6617. Phone: 843-815-6616.

  • Hilton Head Learning Center, 4 Oak Park Dr., Hilton Head, SC 29926. Fax: 843-681-6948. Phone: 843-681-6655.

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