2008 has been branded as the National Year of Reading - a year-long celebration of reading in all its glory and in all its forms. But what about adults who have trouble with reading? As VICKY PASSINGHAM reports, there is help for those in need.

For most adults - and the majority of children for that matter - it is hard to imagine what life would be like without basic reading and writing skills.

We take our literacy skills for granted and rarely give them a second thought.

Whether it's reading the back of a cereal packet at breakfast, browsing the local paper, looking at a road sign, writing a cheque or helping a child with their homework, few would think twice about these essential tools in life.

But take those away and life with poor literacy skills is a very different place.

Improving literacy skills is so much more than just improving someone's ability to read and write.

With a direct link between poor reading and writing skills and poverty, it's not surprising the Government is so keen to invest in adult literacy.

Since a report in 2000 identified huge numbers of people in the UK in need of help with literacy and numeracy, the Government has pumped millions of pounds into its Skills for Life programme.

In its commitment to improving the basic skills of all adults the Government has, since 2001, invested more than £3 billion to support low-skilled and unemployed adults and more than 1.7 million people have gained qualifications in basic literacy and numeracy.

"If you look at Government figures they have made huge strides in this area, but there is still a long way to go," explained Lesley Cresswell, strategic manager for Skills for Life in Essex.

In north Essex there are several classes in Colchester, Clacton and Harwich for adults who need to improve their literacy skills.

Adults joining the courses come for a variety of different reasons, from new parents wanting to be able to read to their children with conviction, to those knowing that poor writing skills are holding them back from getting a better job.

The same goes for why they have literacy problems in the first place, explained Mrs Cresswell.

"Every case is different," she stressed. "Some people come with a huge number of skills but have got gaps and they want to fill those gaps."

They may have missed large spells of school or be undiagnosed dyslexic, but the point of the classes is to adapt their learning to their individual needs.

Often the problem is not their lack of literacy skills, but improving their self-esteem so they can read and write with confidence.

With small classes and the adult learners deciding what they need to improve, it is a far cry from school.

Taking that first step to admitting to having a literacy problem, though, is easier said than done.

"It is very daunting for a lot of learners," stressed Mrs Cresswell.

"The biggest hurdle for people is crossing the threshold and saying What can you do for me?'"

Colchester's adult community learning curriculum manager Kathleen Taylor said adults with poor literacy skills were very good at using different coping stategies to hide their problems from family and friends.

While stressing that every case was different, Mrs Taylor said many adults with poor writing skills had been fairly quiet pupils at school, overlooked by the teachers who had to divide their attention between the troublemakers in the class or the children who had the most difficulties.

These forgotten few then left school with no qualifications and reached adulthood without really being able to spell and write.

Becoming parents is often the first time they face-up to their literacy problems.

"They don't want their children to have the same struggles they have had and want to be able to help them," she explained.

The classes not only help improve literacy skills but help the learners enjoy reading more.

"Most struggle with reading between the lines," explained Mrs Taylor. "They are mechanically reading and when you are concentrating like this, it is very hard to make sense of it."

Many people taking part in the courses are women in their 50s.

"They tell me they have brought up their children and it is now me time' and say they have always wanted to improve their spelling," added Mrs Taylor.

It goes without saying that there is a major boost to someone's self-esteem when they improve such a basic skill which is used in every walk of life.

The stigma around bad literacy skills means many equate their lack of reading and writing ability to simply being stupid.

The fact that they are brave - and wise - enough to tackle their problems in adulthood means they are anything but.

  • For more information at about all the different levels of adult literacy classes on offer, call the Wilson Marriage Centre in Colchester on 01206 798488
  • This year is the National Year of Reading, led by the National Literacy Trust. For more details, visit the website below