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 \u00a3150 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n