Impact
Why is there a need?
Twelve of the 85 neighborhoods in Ipswich are among the 10% most deprived in the country.
If 1 in 6 adults struggled with literacy this means that:
17,000 people in Ipswich were potentially not able to participate fully in life in the way someone who took the ability to read for granted could.
We offer a second chance to people who have fallen through the educational net, often because of dyslexia, ill health, or because they have been caught in a cycle of illiteracy from their childhood; if their parents did not or could not value education. They may have left school early and only in later life are ready to take on the challenge of learning to read. Our students start from 18 and our oldest student to date was 84.
Impact
It is hard to quantify our impact as a charity because helping one person to read has a ripple effect, they will need less support from friends and family and it may help them to be more productive in society and lead fuller lives. If they have children, it will enable them to help their children's life chances and do better at school. Many of our students have low self esteem, they may be isolated and vulnerable, crime is closely linked to literacy.
Our students gain confidence from their success and slowly we see them building self esteem and start to realise that they can get a better job, access training, learn to drive a car, go to a restaurant and read the menu, understand their own health needs better, access financial support, help their child to read. Having small successes in their reading builds confidence to navigate the complexities of life.
People mostly come to us because they want to make a positive change in their lives. 90% of our students say that they need help applying for a job or a better job and help to fill forms or to help with life admin.
It's great when our students move on because they have found a job, have been accepted for further education or have simply fulfilled their goals. We see joy from simple milestones; writing a shopping list, reading a child a story or having the confidence to walk into a restaurant and read a menu.
Lets not forget our volunteers, we provide community and purpose for our volunteers and a way to use their skills in retirement. As with all volunteering, you always get more out of it than you put in.
What our students and volunteers have to say
"It has helped me to spell better, write neater and learn my words"
"I enjoy my time - I am doing something with value"
"I enjoy coming, I have lots to say but struggle to put it into words"
"I am making a difference in someone's life. I love hearing all of the success stories from other volunteers."
"My student works hard and achieves and I learn to count in Bengali. It's a win / win."
"Got to Read has visibly changed people’s lives and has enriched my own. "
"If it wasn’t for my volunteer giving me confidence and staying with me, I would have given up long ago."
Why is there a need?
Twelve of the 85 neighborhoods in Ipswich are among the 10% most deprived in the country.
If 1 in 6 adults struggled with literacy this means that:
17,000 people in Ipswich were potentially not able to participate fully in life in the way someone who took the ability to read for granted could.
We offer a second chance to people who have fallen through the educational net, often because of dyslexia, ill health, or because they have been caught in a cycle of illiteracy from their childhood; if their parents did not or could not value education. They may have left school early and only in later life are ready to take on the challenge of learning to read. Our students start from 18 and our oldest student to date was 84.
Impact
It is hard to quantify our impact as a charity because helping one person to read has a ripple effect, they will need less support from friends and family and it may help them to be more productive in society and lead fuller lives. If they have children, it will enable them to help their children's life chances and do better at school. Many of our students have low self esteem, they may be isolated and vulnerable, crime is closely linked to literacy.
Our students gain confidence from their success and slowly we see them building self esteem and start to realise that they can get a better job, access training, learn to drive a car, go to a restaurant and read the menu, understand their own health needs better, access financial support, help their child to read. Having small successes in their reading builds confidence to navigate the complexities of life.
People mostly come to us because they want to make a positive change in their lives. 90% of our students say that they need help applying for a job or a better job and help to fill forms or to help with life admin.
It's great when our students move on because they have found a job, have been accepted for further education or have simply fulfilled their goals. We see joy from simple milestones; writing a shopping list, reading a child a story or having the confidence to walk into a restaurant and read a menu.
Lets not forget our volunteers, we provide community and purpose for our volunteers and a way to use their skills in retirement. As with all volunteering, you always get more out of it than you put in.
What our students and volunteers have to say
"It has helped me to spell better, write neater and learn my words"
"I enjoy my time - I am doing something with value"
"I enjoy coming, I have lots to say but struggle to put it into words"
"I am making a difference in someone's life. I love hearing all of the success stories from other volunteers."
"My student works hard and achieves and I learn to count in Bengali. It's a win / win."
"Got to Read has visibly changed people’s lives and has enriched my own. "
"If it wasn’t for my volunteer giving me confidence and staying with me, I would have given up long ago."