Adult Literacy: A Secret Struggle

Video report by ITV News Anglia's Elodie Harper

We associate learning to read and write with early childhood, but for many it remains a life long struggle.

Over 11 percent of adults in the East of England lack the most basic literacy skills. This means things as simple as writing a note to a friend, reading a bus time table or even choosing what floor you need in a lift can be a challenge.

When you find reading this difficult, everything can take extra time as it becomes a huge effort to work around the problem - and to keep it secret.

Ron Twining and Tracy Ellis from Peterborough, who are in their fifties, hid their difficulties for years.

But help is out there. Both Ron and Tracy have started literacy classes at Jobsmart, part of Peterborough Regional College. Since then their confidence has hugely improved.

Jobsmart's manager, Jo Mann, says the success rate for adults learning to read there is very high.

New analysis by the National Literacy Trust and Experian has found 83 percent of constituencies in the East of England have at least one ward with significant literacy need. Peterborough, where Ron and Tracy live, is the constituency with the highest need.

The Trust has set up a hub in the city - one of only five literacy hubs in the country - to try and tackle the problem. The hub's focus is on helping children to read, by involving the whole family.

Initiatives include trips for children to the central library, and classes where children and their parents go to discover the fun side of reading, such as making craft projects out of the stories in favourite books.

Natalie Lake took her daughter Millie to the reading cafe run at Dogsthorpe Infants School, and found it the tipping point to get help with her own reading. She's found it helpful and is encouraging others to get help too.

If you or someone you know would like help with your reading and writing, you can contact your local authority to be pointed in the right direction. Many regional colleges also run adult classes.

Alternatively you can also telephone The Learning and Work Institute on 0116 204 4200 for advice on improving your literacy, or call LearnDirect on 0800 101 901 to find out about free practical literacy courses.

For ideas about how to get your children reading you can also contact your local library or the National Literacy Trust.