A charity which helps adults learn or improve their reading is aiming to launch in Huddersfield and across Kirklees.

Read Easy Kirklees & Calderdale has been active for 18 months in Calderdale and is now looking to recruit new volunteers to support their adult literacy work in Kirklees.

Read Easy is a UK-based national charity that provides free, confidential, one-on-one reading coaching to adults. They recruit, train and support volunteers to use a phonics-based system.

Read Easy, established in 2011, has almost 100 volunteer-led groups across the country helping more than 1,500 adults to learn to read.

The sessions are one-to-one with reader and coach who meet in public venues, such as local libraries or community buildings, convenient to both.

These are places that afford some privacy but where there are always people around, for safeguarding purposes.

Michelle Edwards, co-ordinator with Read Easy Kirklees & Calderdale, told Huddersfield Hub how she first got involved with the charity.

“I’d decided to have some time away from working in a school but still wanted to contribute something meaningful to my local community,” she said.

“Read Easy seemed an obvious choice to focus my time and energy on because it embodies my belief in the positive impact of improved reading skills.

“The most fulfilling aspects for me have been talking to people who want to learn to read, then hearing about their progress and improved confidence. It’s also great talking to reading coaches who want so much to help people with their reading.

“Learning to read makes such a huge difference to people’s lives and the knowledge that by volunteering I’ve helped people achieve this is incredibly rewarding and empowering.”

In Kirklees there are various volunteer roles available including reading coach and co-ordinator.

Michelle added: “As a reading coach you might give someone 1:1 support, or you might have other skills you could bring to help the group progress.

“If you are looking for a volunteering opportunity and have an interest in adult literacy then please get in touch.

“We are also keen to recruit another co-ordinator who can meet and enrol adults who want to learn to read, interview volunteer reading coaches, arrange training and match coaches with readers.”

Michelle said volunteering with Read Easy was a great way to give back and added: “My Read Easy volunteering colleagues are a great team offering encouragement and support, practical help or a different viewpoint to help with problem solving.

“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to connect to people in a positive and meaningful way.

“If you’re passionate about adult literacy and helping people, if you can commit the time and energy needed, then come and join us!”

Michelle and her husband Nick recently took part in a Monopoly Board 17.5 mile (45,000 steps!) sponsored walk in London and raised £450 for Read Easy. They are pictured above with Monopoly money outside the Bank of England.

For more information or to become a volunteer go to www.readeasy.org.uk/groups/read-easy-kirklees-calderdale-pioneer/ 

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