'Many people mask it from those around them': The Fulwood teacher to help the thousands of Preston adults who can't read

A primary school teacher from Fulwood has vowed to set up a new support group, helping adults without the ability to read or write in Preston.
Teacher Rachel Marnie, 49, will be setting up Preston's first support group offering one to one reading coaching to adultsTeacher Rachel Marnie, 49, will be setting up Preston's first support group offering one to one reading coaching to adults
Teacher Rachel Marnie, 49, will be setting up Preston's first support group offering one to one reading coaching to adults

After first being inspired by Channel 4's 'The Write Offs', Rachel Coupe, 49, of Mickleden Avenue, decided she wanted to help people in and around Preston by setting up a support group offering one to one reading coaching to adults.

In the first scheme of its kind in the area, Rachel hopes to support almost 7,000 people in the city who have "slipped through the cracks" in society and may have been left without the fundamental skills.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "I am qualified to teach reading and primary children and had thought about volunteering to teach adults to read, but there appeared to be no provision for one-to-one teaching of adult reading in Preston.

"I was moved to see how people who can't read or write struggled with every day activities like catching a bus and I thought there must be something I can do to help."

Read Easy UK is an organisation that successfully supports 40 groups in England in giving reading coaching to adults on a one to one basis.

After they had announced their plans to expand in the North West, Rachel was determined to help and is now on the lookout for volunteers to help her get the group up and running.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She found that 16 per cent of adults in Preston struggle with their reading - but that just seven per cent would have the confidence to join a class, leaving a large proportion still in need of support.

It is the first group of its kind in the city, helping adults who struggle with their reading and writingIt is the first group of its kind in the city, helping adults who struggle with their reading and writing
It is the first group of its kind in the city, helping adults who struggle with their reading and writing

According to the 2011 Skills for Life survey which has not been updated in almost a decade, almost 7,000 Preston residents were considered to be at the lowest levels of their reading and writing ability.

Many people who find reading and writing a challenge often attempt to hide it from other people due to embarrassment or fear of being judged.

Facing difficult barriers to learning in their childhood and experiencing trauma at a young age are just some of the reasons that adults can find reading such a challenge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rachel said: "We offer a confidential approach as many people are masking it from those around them and hide it from their friends and family. Developing their reading skills will improve their chances in life and work.

"Can you imagine how hard it must be to go shopping or access the internet without reading?

"After Read Easy UK read my report, they gave me the go-ahead to pioneer the Preston Read Easy group.

"There is currently a lot of funding for Functional Skills classes at local colleges but we want to help people who are at the very beginning. These people get left behind because they wouldn’t have the skills or the confidence to join a class and there is no provision for this.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Local organisations have been really keen to offer their support, so now I have to gather a team of volunteers who can help me get the group up and running. I’ve already have a few volunteers through my Facebook page but if people want to join a friendly group at its exciting inception, this is a great, rewarding opportunity."

Once established, Rachel will be appealing for reading coaches who will be trained and paired with a learner, who they will meet twice a week for 30 minutes.

More information about Read Easy and their work is available at their website.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 per month for the first two months. Try us today by ​clicking here

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.