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Major milestone for storytelling movement

Open the Book recruits 1000th volunteer

Nov 2 at 11:43am

The Open the Book storytelling organisation which dramatises Bible stories for children has recruited its one thousandth Gloucestershire volunteer.

The 1,000th volunteer was Jane Broome, who worships at St Catharine's Church, Gloucester. She was presented with an Open the Book sweatshirt in a special assembly at Elmbridge Infant School, Gloucester.

Gloucestershire co-ordinator the Revd Jacqueline Rodwell said she was delighted with the success of the ecumenical storytelling scheme. There are 500 teams across the UK, but the area where it has seen the most growth is in Gloucestershire. Here, the movement has grown from 30 volunteers in six Gloucestershire schools in 2001, to 1,000 volunteers in 164 local schools today.

She said: "Over 16,000 children hear God's word every week through this scheme � more than enough to fill Gloucester Rugby Stadium. It is phenomenal that 1,000 volunteers give up an hour of their time every week to tell children about God's relationship with humankind. It is having a real impact on people's lives as schools and churches are working together in partnership."

The free programme offered by Open the Book helps schools to deliver their legal requirement for collective worship. One Ofsted inspector was so impressed with the performances she saw that she volunteered to join too!

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