Read Easy Melksham – one of a growing number of Read Easy groups in the UK who are helping adults who have difficulty with reading – are looking for volunteers.
Around 5 million adults in England and Wales have reading and writing skills below that expected of the average 11 year old.
The group says, “In the Melksham area, we are helping to tackle this situation by providing coaching sessions that are free, fun and one-to-one. Our coaches are trained volunteers and we use approved venues for confidential tuition. The pace of learning is matched to the reader (student) and there are no fixed time targets. Each reader meets with their assigned coach twice each week for half an hour.
“It is four years since Read Easy started in Melksham and growth was very slow at the beginning. However, a year ago, we could boast that we were helping (or had helped) a total of 14 people. This figure has now doubled to 28 in the last 12 months! This is great news but this level of activity needs more resources including funds and volunteers.
“Our one coordinator can take care of around 15 reader-coach pairs and we have reached the stage where we need a second coordinator who will operate closely with our first. This role is very important and entails working with both readers and coaches at “the sharp end” as well as with the group’s management team. Volunteering with Read Easy is exciting and very rewarding.
“This is a significant step forward for Read Easy Melksham and we would like to find a volunteer with the right skills and commitment. If anyone would like to enquire further about the role and possibly have a “no strings” meeting with the management team leader, they should telephone David Williams on 07939 556541 or e-mail melksham@readeasy.org.uk
