In 2008, Tracy Bose, founder CEO of Got to Read, was employed by Suffolk Libraries as a project manager to co-ordinate reading celebration events across Suffolk for the National Year of Reading.
Part of that work was funded by the National Literacy Trust. This was where we became aware of the national statistic that 1 in 6 people struggle with literacy. (this means that they struggle to reach the level of reading expected of an 11 year old)
1 in 2 people in the prison population struggles with literacy. Crime is closely linked to literacy issues.
As the work with Suffolk Libraries drew to a close, a self-supporting group had formed based at Gainsborough library, who were interested in what could be done to promote reading and literacy in Ipswich. The group included Tracy Bose and the future Got to Read’s Chair of Trustees, Kay McElhinney.
Got to Read was born as a charity and launched on 1st November 2011 with Tracy as CEO and Kay as Chair of Trustees.
Over the years we have helped hundreds of people. Some have stayed with us a couple of years, as their reading has grown, they have added new goals. Others have stayed for a few weeks and months because they have reached their goals.
The reasons for people coming for help varies widely. Some are dyslexic. Some missed out at a vital moment in education due to illness or family moves and never caught up again. Some have had troubled or chaotic lives, or just never ‘got’ reading when they were younger. We offer a second chance.
Many of our students have tried to attend formal literacy lessons as adults, but have found that they can’t keep up with the pace or the class environment is too overwhelming or difficult. The 1:1 offer at Got to Read gives them a chance to get a foot on the rung with reading in a safe and confidential environment where they can go at their own pace and ask the questions they may not want to ask in a public space. The training is bespoke to each student and all of our resources are adult based not child and are aimed at adults from all walks of life.
Since our launch, we have steadily worked with between 15 and 25 students annually. Got to Read is run and all of our services are delivered 100% by volunteers.
We have built up a library of resources and techniques to help students at varying levels of skills – we can support beginner readers and those who have cracked basic reading but want to improve comprehension, writing and spelling skills.
We moved into our own rooms at Tower House in Tower Street in 2017. This made a huge difference as we were then able to offer stability to students and volunteers and no longer needed to spend time looking for suitable rooms for each student. In 2023, we moved next door to 19 Tower Street.
Part of that work was funded by the National Literacy Trust. This was where we became aware of the national statistic that 1 in 6 people struggle with literacy. (this means that they struggle to reach the level of reading expected of an 11 year old)
1 in 2 people in the prison population struggles with literacy. Crime is closely linked to literacy issues.
As the work with Suffolk Libraries drew to a close, a self-supporting group had formed based at Gainsborough library, who were interested in what could be done to promote reading and literacy in Ipswich. The group included Tracy Bose and the future Got to Read’s Chair of Trustees, Kay McElhinney.
Got to Read was born as a charity and launched on 1st November 2011 with Tracy as CEO and Kay as Chair of Trustees.
Over the years we have helped hundreds of people. Some have stayed with us a couple of years, as their reading has grown, they have added new goals. Others have stayed for a few weeks and months because they have reached their goals.
The reasons for people coming for help varies widely. Some are dyslexic. Some missed out at a vital moment in education due to illness or family moves and never caught up again. Some have had troubled or chaotic lives, or just never ‘got’ reading when they were younger. We offer a second chance.
Many of our students have tried to attend formal literacy lessons as adults, but have found that they can’t keep up with the pace or the class environment is too overwhelming or difficult. The 1:1 offer at Got to Read gives them a chance to get a foot on the rung with reading in a safe and confidential environment where they can go at their own pace and ask the questions they may not want to ask in a public space. The training is bespoke to each student and all of our resources are adult based not child and are aimed at adults from all walks of life.
Since our launch, we have steadily worked with between 15 and 25 students annually. Got to Read is run and all of our services are delivered 100% by volunteers.
We have built up a library of resources and techniques to help students at varying levels of skills – we can support beginner readers and those who have cracked basic reading but want to improve comprehension, writing and spelling skills.
We moved into our own rooms at Tower House in Tower Street in 2017. This made a huge difference as we were then able to offer stability to students and volunteers and no longer needed to spend time looking for suitable rooms for each student. In 2023, we moved next door to 19 Tower Street.