Barrie Hughes had worked for the parks department in Brighton and Hove for 14 years and always hidden the fact that he couldn’t read and write, but at the age of 58 he decided it was time to seek some help.

Barrie had to attend a training course for work; anxious about people finding out that he couldn’t read and write, he bandaged his arm and hand to look as though he’d had an accident. At this point Barrie realised he couldn’t do this forever so he asked for an assessment with a tutor. He began with one-to-one literacy classes to boost his confidence levels, using Quick Reads.

Barrie is now an avid reader and actively encourages colleagues to get back into learning. He said, “I love being able to write poetry and to read things. I would not have had the confidence or ability to do this before I started learning again.”

Watch Barrie’s video

Gerildine Talbot, aged 44, never learnt to read and write due to a disrupted childhood. She’s now discovered a passion for reading and caught up on the skills she missed out on.

Encouraged to write her life story by social workers, last year Gerildine started attending a Leeds City College Skills for Life literacy class. She attends a book club reading Quick Reads, has already achieved an Entry Level 2 qualification in literacy and has gone on to complete other courses.

Her tutor Ann Eveleigh says: “Learning to read and write has made a tremendous difference to Gerildine’s life. She is now more confident, talkative, bursting with life and energy.”

Gerildine said, “It’s like a door opening, I cannot stop reading, I have books galore at home. I used to walk with my head down, but now I’m looking at everything. I know I will be learning all of my life.”

Watch Gerildine’s video