Charity Read Easy Cornwall used International Literacy Day 2023 to encourage adults who struggle to read to come forward and ask for help.

They asked people who knew of friends and family members who cannot read or struggle with reading, to pass on the Read Easy Cornwall’s phone number, and encourage them to make a call that could transform their lives.  

International Literacy Day took place on Friday also coincided with the first anniversary of the setting up of Read Easy Cornwall.  

During their first year they have successfully started over 10 coach and reading pairs throughout Cornwall and have several more pairs nearly ready to commence.  

The BBC1 documentary “Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51” followed The Repair Shop presenter and dad Jay Blades as he learnt to read with Read Easy. 

Like many other parents who struggle to read, Jay had never been able to read his children bedtime stories. The highlight of the documentary was when Jay reached his goal of being able to read his teenage daughter one of her favourite childhood books. 

There are many adults in Cornwall who, like Jay, struggle to read. For them, everyday tasks such as booking a doctor’s appointment, reading road signs or doing the food shopping can be incredibly challenging. 

Read Easy Cornwall offers free and confidential, one-to-one coaching, from trained volunteers. Coaches and learners meet twice a week at approved local venues, or online, to work for just half an hour at a time through a structured, phonics-based reading programme.

Read Easy say that those who struggle to read should not feel embarrassed about coming forward and asking for help as there are lots of different reasons why people don’t learn to read in childhood.

For some it may have been a lack of support from their own family or school, for others it may have been undiagnosed dyslexia. But people should not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it, the reading sessions are friendly, welcoming and Read Easy are there to help.

Johnathan is one of Read Easy UK’s success stories. He started the Read Easy programme in 2020 when the country went into lockdown. He found it frustrating not being able to help his children with home-schooling.  Now, he can read with his family, enjoys reading novels and has a new-found confidence in himself and in the future.

He said: “More than anything I want to know I have achieved something in life and to show my kids that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Most importantly, I want to see the smiles on their faces when I read to them. It’s such a massive achievement for me and nothing makes me happier.”

Read Easy Cornwall is also looking to fill several volunteer roles to enable them to help more adults in the area. 

For more information about learning to read please contact Kathryn on 07342744388 or to volunteer with Read Easy Cornwall, email Cathy: [email protected].