At Read Easy, COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the way we support adults to learn to read. Our model is based on volunteer groups offering face-to-face, one-to-one coaching, and it was clear as the pandemic took hold that we would not be able to continue in this way.
With the Reader at the heart of everything we do, we knew that we needed to find a way of offering remote coaching through the pandemic so that any Reader who wanted to continue to learn to read could do so. Being a small and lean charity, this was no easy task. It took our whole team and the enthusiastic hard work of our volunteer groups to be able to put in place an online learning programme for Coaches to deliver.
Our volunteers were resourceful and dynamic, keeping in touch with Readers to understand what they needed and testing new ways of offering coaching. Our Head Office team, Regional Advisers and Trainers worked to create online tools and resources for Coaches to use with Readers, as well as offering guidance on using video conferencing and mobile devices to deliver coaching. New policies and best practice guidance were created to support Read Easy volunteer group Management Teams with this completely new way of coaching and supporting Readers. In addition, our Trainers adapted all our Reading Coach and Management Team training sessions so that they could be delivered over Zoom.
We were also delighted to receive a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to allow us to support groups in the purchase of tablets to allow some of their Readers to continue their coaching sessions.
“Due to Covid, I have never met Helen, my Reading Coach, in person. We have done everything online using Zoom or WhatsApp and using e-mails and photos to share work. I have also learnt lots of new skills with technology as well as building on my reading skills during this time!” John, Reader
Read John’s story here.
We recently surveyed our Readers and Reading Coaches about the challenges and benefits of remote coaching and, though technology issues and dropping Wi-Fi signals etc were present for some, early responses show that the experience appears to have been mainly positive. Some Readers even mentioned that their IT skills have improved alongside their reading, which is fantastic to hear, and we are so grateful to our volunteers who have been on hand to support Coaches and Readers with IT challenges.
Another benefit of remote coaching is that the Reader can learn in their own home and, for some who would rather learn in private, this has been well received. Saving on travel and allowing for greater flexibility in arranging times to meet was also mentioned by both Readers and Coaches.
“There have been some technical hitches but on the whole, it has been convenient, flexible and quite successful.” Read Easy Coach
Most Readers and Coaches agreed that going forwards a mixture of face-to-face and remote sessions would be beneficial. Although our tested and preferred method of offering reading coaching, when possible or preferred, would be face-to-face sessions, the pandemic has proved that there is also a place for online coaching. We hope that in more remote areas, online coaching could allow us to reach more adults who are seeking support.
You can read more about how we plan to take remote coaching forwards here.