SPCK works to improve adult literacy

Most of us take being able to read for granted. You’re probably reading this quickly, with little effort, and without having to think about how to sound out each word.

Yet on International Literacy day it’s important to remember all those adults in the UK who struggle to read and to consider the impact that this has on their lives.

According to the National Literacy Trust, 1 in 6 adults in England have very poor literacy skills while 1 in 4 adults in Scotland experience challenges due to their lack of literacy skills. The statistics for Wales (1 in 8 adults) and Northern Ireland (1 in 5) paint a similar picture.

Adults with poor literacy find it very difficult to find work and are unable to support their children’s learning.

SPCK works to help prisoners, ex-offenders and homeless people to improve their reading skills so that they are better able to find work and to build a more hopeful future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Through our Diffusion Books project, SPCK has provided prisons and community charities with over 13,000 books that have been specially written for adults who need to get better at reading. Our books all have an inspiring message and demonstrate how lives can be turned around and positive futures can be achieved. We provide the books for free – there is absolutely no cost to the individuals or to the organizations that we work with.

Our work is making a real difference. One man, a prisoner at HMP Barlinnie, wrote to us:
“This is the first book I have read! My age is 61. Taking part in a reading group helped me with building convdenc [confidence] and knowing that you are not alown [alone] in your reading skills.”

Another man, at HMP Featherstone, said:

“The reading level was within my abilities but pushed me and I learnt knew words.”

While a tutor at HMP Low Newton wrote to tell us:

“They are excellent books and they have given learners who are not confident readers the opportunity and enthusiasm to start reading. This is a huge achievement for some as we have many learners who just would not normally engage in any type of reading.”

This work would not be possible without generous donations from charitable trusts and from individual donors.

One grateful recipient of our books wrote to tell us:

“Thank you SPCK. People like you make life much nicer. I sometimes lose faith in people until I see your work. I feel a ray of hope. Thank the Lord for Christians.”

If you would like to find out more about SPCK’s Diffusion Books project or to support our work please visit https://spckpublishing.co.uk/diffusion-books.