[George Persson of the Sperring Charity Trustees presents a cheque to Read Easy Bath Team Leader, Caroline Cronin and Read Easy Co-Ordinator for Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Peasedown, Alison Maughan.]
Most of us take it for granted that we can pick up a book or a newspaper and read its contents. It’s good to know there is a voluntary group in Bath helping those who have been denied this world in print.
The group is called Read Easy Bath, and they currently have three reasons to celebrate the work they do. Two new ‘readers’ have received certificates on completing their reading journey – and the Midsomer Norton-based Sperring Charity has made a generous £2500 donation to help with their work.
Read Easy Bath Team Leader Caroline Cronin explains: ‘Read Easy Bath is a voluntary group affiliated to Read Easy UK. We offer free, confidential, one-to-one coaching with trained volunteer coaches for adults who, for any number of reasons, can’t read or have limited reading ability. We passionately believe that reading changes lives, and in the National Year of Reading, there’s never been a better time to learn or improve!’
Proud graduates, Gary (L) and Roger (R)
Roger (58) never mastered reading at school and didn’t have the confidence to ask. Having worked through the five stages of the Read Easy programme with his coach, Roger says: ‘I’ve loved learning to read. I now know how to sound out words and am buying myself books and going to the library.’
Called a ‘model pupil’ by his coach, Steph Perrett, Roger has wide interests. He completes Wordsearch puzzles and hopes to enrol on an IT course.
Also graduating is Gary (29). His learning difficulty made it hard to concentrate at school, but with the help of the Swallow charity, he learnt cooking and counter skills at their café in The Hive, Peasedown St John. Knowing his inability to read was holding him back, he jumped at the chance to learn.
‘I was nervous at the start,’ he says, ‘but my coach was so friendly and kind, I soon got going!’
Gary’s coach Debbie Wilkes says: ‘I’m so proud of Gary’s achievements, motivation and focus. Watching him learn and grow has been the most amazing thing – we have changed the course of his future.’
Trustee George Persson of the Sperring Charity adds: ‘We were impressed by the Read Easy Bath’s passion for the work it does in the area and wanted to provide support.’
But the last word goes to Roger.
‘I feel like a reader now. I’m much more confident. I say to myself “I can do it!”’
If you know someone who would like to learn to read please contact Sarah at bath@readeasy.org.uk or Alison – bathcoordinator3@readeasy.org.uk or 07593 187293
For your further information:
2.4 million adults in England alone can barely read or cannot read at all.
Over 5 million adults in England and Wales have a reading age of under 11
