VOLUNTEERS have brushed up on their skills to help people in Blackbird Leys who struggle with reading.

The Read Easy programme, set to launch in early 2016, will see the newly-trained volunteers paired up with adults from the estate who need help with learning literacy skills.

The first session for new coaches was held at the Oxford Academy by national charity Read Easy on Saturday.

Regional adviser Stephanie Matthews said: “It was excellent. We had 12 coaches who are now trained and raring to go.

“They went through the ‘Yes We Can Read’ book, which is a phonics-based approach to learning to read and looked at the procedures around working with adults.”

A report from the Oxfordshire Learning Partnership said about 25 per cent of adults in Blackbird Leys have poor literacy skills, and 36 per cent have no formal qualifications.

New coaches are now all set to work with adults of all abilities, from those who need a refresher to those who cannot read or write at all.

Mrs Matthews said: “One of the biggest challenges is the history that people bring with them. A significant number of the adults we work with will have been through the educational system and not had a good experience. They may have been bullied, or stigmatised as not being very bright, and may be unsure about working in groups.”

Those who take part in Read Easy will be taught in one-to-one sessions with their coaches, typically over two half-hour lessons a week.

All courses with Read Easy will be free and there will be no exam or qualification at the end. Readers can continue for as long as they feel comfortable.

Volunteers at the Saturday session came from all over Oxford. Liz Harris, 65, from Greater Leys, said: “Now that I’m retired, I wanted to do something that was going to benefit people less fortunate than myself.

“Lots of the other volunteers had experience teaching, which I don’t, but I found it very rewarding teaching my granddaughter.

“I thought Saturday went very well. It was a lot more involved in the actual process of teaching than I thought.

“As an adult, if you can’t read it can’t be very easy. I’m a little bit apprehensive but I think once the initial meetings are under way it will go well.”

* To get involved with Read Easy, either as a learner, volunteer coach or committee member, call Ruth Graham on 07938 988114 or email her at ruth@readeasy.org.uk