Despite being less than a year old, the voluntary group Read Easy Leicester and District has helped about a dozen adults to start to learn to read.
The group’s fundraiser, Ramilla Patel, told Novus Rotary members, and a guest from Kettering Huxloe Rotary, that about 7 per cent of the adult UK population struggle to read. In Leicester, she said, that amounts to about 21,000 grown-ups.
Educator Ramilla, who also teaches English as a Second Language (ESOL), was a pioneer who helped set up the local branch of the charity Read Easy, and recruit 18 volunteers. Using a nationally-approved programme and teaching materials, the volunteers meet the learners on a confidential, one-to-one basis in public spaces like libraries and community centres typically twice a week for 30 minutes. Because the meetings are always in public spaces, it is not necessary to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
In other parts of the country, Read Easy has taught adults to read in as little as nine months or up to two years. Ramilla said thee programme costs about £150 per learner.
The value of the programme is clear; learners often spoke of how their new confidence had transformed their lives, as they were now able to do so many things that most adults take for granted: reading letters from loved ones, letters from councils, instructions on medicine bottles and road signs.
Previously, some had felt isolated, hopeless, trapped.
Ramilla mentioned that Jay Blades, who presents the BBC TV programme The Repair Shop, had learned to read using the Read Easy system. You can watch how he got on, at the age of 51, by clicking here https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0013wcj/jay-blades-learning-to-read-at-51
If you know someone who might benefit from the friendly, fun and flexible service offered by the volunteers of Read Easy Leicester and District, please show them this page or show them the link. Or you can ask them to call, in confidence, Elaine Goodall on 0795 746 5558.
If you want to volunteer to help someone like Jay Blades, please contact Novus Rotary by clicking on the Contact Us tab on this page and we will put you in touch with this great group of volunteers.
Last edited: 15:45 on Friday, 24/06/2022
