Read Easy comes to Wythenshawe, South Manchester

The first Read Easy group in the North West is poised to start in Wythenshawe, South Manchester. We are excited to already have the support of a range of local people and individuals who want to make a difference for adults who struggle to read or who cannot read at all.

Would you like to be part of a small and enthusiastic team? Perhaps you have existing skills you’d like to use or perhaps would like to develop some new ones. If so, Read Easy Wythenshawe might be an opportunity for you to have fun whilst being part of something brand new and exciting for the community. We are currently looking for volunteers to help organise activities for readers, by helping as part of the management team. There are a wide range of ways to get involved including helping with finance, marketing, liaising with local venues and as team leader.

Would you like to make an impact by working directly with readers? If you are a confident reader and could spare half an hour twice a week, you could become a coach. Read Easy Benchill is also on the look out for a literacy specialist and a Coordinator who can help by pairing up volunteers and assess readers– perhaps you have some teaching experience or an interest in teaching and learning, and could spare some time regularly to help.

We will be holding a public meeting on the 24th of January at 7pm, at St John Fisher and Thomas More School 127 Woodhouse Ln, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 9NW. Anyone interested in getting involved in the Wythenshawe group is warmly invited to attend. Please contact Debbie Penny on debbie@readeasy.org.uk or Vicky on 07931138350 if you would like to attend.

To find out more about any of our current vacancies in Wythenshawe and across the North West, please contact Vicky – 07931138350 vicky@readeasy.org.uk or visit : https://readeasy.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

Fundraising success for Read Easy Wellingborough

Many thanks to the Wellingborough Lions who presented their local Read Easy group with a cheque for £575  recently.

These funds will enable the group to buy the reading coaching books they need for their new adult readers and start the reading coaching with them.

Melksham’s first Reader has graduated!

Helen was the first Reader to enrol on the adult reading scheme with Read Easy Melksham and is now their first Graduate Reader, having completed the scheme. She recently gave a very moving speech at Melksham library, which you can read here – it says it all:

“Hello, my name is Helen. I have been learning to read using the Read Easy scheme for over three years.

I would like to thank all those who have helped me on my journey, especially Elyse, who allowed me to used the nursing home lounge, so that I could read in comfort and safety. Also, I would like to thank Janet who was my first teacher for two years. And Pauline, who took over and accompanied me for the last eighteen months or so.

I was very proud of my achievements when I stood up in front of my church family and read the twenty third psalm out loud. I was extremely nervous, but everyone said I did very well. It was an emotional time.

So here I am, more confident, reading things at work. I am getting books out of the library with audio books, so that I can build on my skills. I am reading the words to songs we sing off the screen in church. I have also joined a singing group and can read the words of the songs we learn, and I am becoming more fluent. I can often find the words before I have to sing them.

I can keep track of my hospital appointments and all of this is giving me more independence and a good sense of personal achievement. Thank you for coming”.

The Melksham News were delighted to hear this story and published this article: