Read Easy UK is a registered charity, established to help adults learn to read currently has XX affiliated groups offering 1:1  reading support from trained volunteer Coaches  provides the structure, resources, training and on-going support for each local group.

(Skills for Life Survey, 2011) 5 million adults in England and Wales have reading or writing skills below that expected of the average 11 year old (Skills for Life Survey, 2011)

What do we mean by low reading skills? The Good Food Show BIRMINGHAM NEC 22nd-29TH November 2017 Tickets: £35, £40, £50

(Skills for Life Survey, 2011) 1 in 5 adults would not be able to use the index to find a plumber in the Yellow Pages (Skills for Life Survey, 2011)

Poor reading skills are associated with: poverty homelessness crime low self-esteem low confidence isolation and depression poor physical and mental health Adults who struggle to read Are 5 times more likely to be unemployed and 4 times more likely to experience long-term unemployment Develop coping strategies, but are unlikely to reach their potential Struggle to help their children with learning Are less likely to vote, or take part in public and community life

£10 billion a year is lost to the economy because employees have difficulty with literacy and numeracy skills

Literacy problems cost the public purse anything up to £64,000 per individual over a lifetime. (KPMG report, 2009)

So, why do adults have reading problems?

Why adults have reading problems Absence from school Disrupted education, e.g. moving home frequently or sickness Family problems Being a young carer Undiagnosed visual/hearing impairment or learning difficulty Dyslexia Intergenerational effect.

What is Read Easy doing about this? Your local group is run with support from Read Easy UK: Confidential, 1-1 tuition Trained Reading Coaches Half hour sessions twice a week Approved local venues Friendly, flexible and free Readers are referred by partners such as JobCentre Plus, Children’s Centres, CAB…or themselves

People can learn to read in 9 months to 2 years Phonics based programme with additional learning activities Readers work at their own pace Adults complete with reading skills that enable them to progress at work and with life Readers receive a certificate of achievement Many move on to further learning

Some Read Easy groups also provide a one year extension programme to introduce writing skills, called Moving Ahead

‘Readers’ and Coaches meet: At approved local venues including: Community centres Church halls Office spaces

Readers are referred by local partner agencies JobCentre Plus Adult Learning and training providers Social Services and Probation Community workers Libraries CAB Health professionals Children’s Centres Friends and family …or can simply refer themselves

Why Read Easy is needed Very isolating – people usually hide their problems and won’t join a class Few classes can provide 1:1 support and classes have been cut because of funding Read Easy helps adults read sufficiently well to cope with everyday tasks and to feel confident to progress to further learning.

Many dyslexic learners have learnt to read with Read Easy….

Readers say Read Easy makes a huge difference … ‘I feel less of a mouse and more of a giant!’ Ria ‘There’s an ecstatic excitement about it. The knowledge is very powerful.’ Tony ‘Once you’ve done the reading, you want to move on to writing, just like you learn to crawl, then walk, then run’ Jenny ‘Have the courage and go forth!’ Bernard

Read Easy works successfully with people with learning disabilities

Read Easy Life Impact Wheel

But it can be a hidden problem and people are often reluctant to seek help Isolation: “No-one else has this problem; I can’t let anyone else know.” “I’ll never learn…/ I can get by…” Stereotyping and discrimination – labelled by others as “thick” No access to transport or costs of travel to classes Concern about job security: “What if the boss finds out?”

You could make all the difference! Spread the word! People are nervous of seeking help, and they certainly won’t read publicity about Read Easy. Help people to realise they are not alone and can learn to read. Readers need support to find us! Got access to some premises? Offer a safe place for Readers to meet their Read Easy Coach Got some time? Become a Coach or join our Management Team Into fundraising? Hold an event to raise money for your local group…. Have fun and get fit with sponsored sports, or bake and sell cake at a coffee morning or in your book-club Access to cash? Make a donation. Just £140 covers the cost of teaching one adult to read.

Questions?

What next?

Contact {Name of group} To find out more, contact: Read Easy XXX {Team Leader} {name/email/phone number} To refer a Reader: Read Easy Coordinator {name/email/phone number} National readeasy.org.uk Further details are on the Read Easy publicity circulated today