Adult literacy scheme Read Easy needs cash support (From Dorset Echo)

Adult literacy scheme Read Easy needs cash support

1:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News By Rachael Burnett

FUNDS are needed to help adults across Dorset learn to read easily.

Read Easy provides coaching for adults with low reading skills who are unable to enrol in adult literacy classes.

The group has a network of personal reading coaches to work individually with people who need intensive teaching free of charge.

The Do It for Dorset Campaign is a joint initiative between Dorset Echo and the Dorset Community Foundation – a registered charity dedicated to promoting charitable giving and grant making for charities and community groups.

The Foundation works with secret millionaires, family businesses and companies which want to give back to their community.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for charities signed up to localgiving.com.

John Patterson, of Read Easy, said: “The group is about changing the lives for the better through literacy.

“We recognise that conventional classroom learning just hasn't worked for some people.”

He added: “There are a range of social problems associated with adult illiteracy, from criminality to low self-esteem and unrealised personal potential and fulfilment.

“Coaching people to read removes this blight on the lives of many.

“We have a network of personal reading coaches to work one-to-one with those who need intensive reading care.”

Their coaches are all carefully trained in working remotely using a book called ‘Yes We Can Read’ which goes right back to first base using phonics to help people crack the ‘code’ to get them to read and read well.

In the past 18 months 20 adults in the Dorchester and Weymouth area have been coached to read and a similar number of citizens have been able to contribute to their community by acting as coaches.

The group is appealing for donations to help support the cause.

A £10 donation will provide a set of quick read books, £30 provides a reading tutor manual for a new reader and £120 is the total cost of coaching one person to read.

To donate or for more information visit localgiving.com/charity/readeasydorchandwey.