Read Easy Bath, a voluntary group which is changing the lives of adults by providing free coaching to people who want to learn to read, is seeking more coaches.
The volunteers provide confidential one-to-one support to residents across the local area.
The group is made up of a management team, three coordinators and a bank of trained coaches.
It operates principally in Bath but is now looking to expand to Peasedown St. John and Radstock.
Another coordinator is now being sought, along with more coaches.
The coordinator assesses people who want to learn to read and pairs each with a volunteer coach.
They provide ongoing support for reading pairs, through occasional visits and regular calls, to check that all is going well.
The coordinator can also call on a Literacy Specialist to respond to any literacy-related difficulties pairs may be having.
Being a Read Easy co-ordinator is flexible and rewarding. The time needed varies from week to week, and according to the number of pairs being supported, but will probably be at least 3 hours a week.
A co-ordinator needs to have strong personal literacy, good communication, organisational and people skills, be able to work on their own initiative and work well as part of a team.
Reading coaches offer one-to-one coaching to adults learning to read. A coach receives free training from Read Easy and is paired with a reader by a coordinator, who will support both coach and reader as they progress through a phonics-based reading programme.
Pairs usually meet twice a week for thirty minutes at an approved venue, but remote, online coaching is also an option.
Coaches need to be patient, positive and encouraging, be reliable and consistent, able to work alone, seeking support where necessary and willing to work within the guidelines of the project.
If you’re interested in either of the roles, you should contact Read Easy Bath’s Volunteer Recruiter, Juliet at [email protected].