September 8th is International Literacy Day.

It is a reminder that being able to read unlocks so many opportunities.

Struggling with reading or not being able to read as an adult creates barriers to so many daily tasks that most of us take for granted.

Take a moment and think about how much you’ve read today.

Maybe it was street signs on your way to work or making sure you were getting on the right bus or train.

If you take medication, you might have checked the dose. You may have used an app to request an appointment with your doctor.

You could have signed a form for a child’s school or checked their homework.

Maybe you bought lunch and read the ingredients, important for a tasty meal but vital if you have allergies.

Perhaps you looked at your bank balance and paid a bill online.

Right now, you’re reading this article.

Now imagine what life would be like if you couldn’t do any of these daily tasks.

This is what life is like for around 2.4 million adults in England today.

And we want to change that. Will you help us?

• You can volunteer with one of our 80 local Groups or with our national team.

• You can donate to help us reach more adults who want to learn to read.

• You can promote our free, confidential, one to one coaching by telling others, putting up posters or referring people to your local Group.

• You could pioneer a new Read Easy Group, or a hub for an existing group, if our reading coaching isn’t available in your area.

Together, we can unlock whole new worlds of possibilities and opportunities for adults who want to learn to read.