Awards for All - rewards for FRED? Fingers crossed!

Apologies for the break in transmission.

FRED is bidding for some money from Awards for All to support a development in its work and they wanted some more information.

Probably like me, your initial idea of adults with literacy needs is that they're some kind of homogenised group. But over the past couple of years, I've come to understand the variety lying beneath that phrase.

Some learners go through our main resource straightforwardly and then go on to enrol at College, happy as Larry (who was Larry, by the way?). Some learners, similarly straightforwardly, go through the resource and are quite content with that - it satisfies their need as they saw it.

Others go on to College but find it challenging because of their low confidence levels. Where possible we arrange a transition period of support, sometimes with the coach accompanying them for the first couple of sessions (we're very lucky to have excellent relationships with Gloucestershire College Forest of Dean Campus staff.

Another group do the initial course, but would like help with other aspects of literacy before they feel able to progress further or feel they've achieved what they wanted to achieve. Yet another subset is much slower to go through the book, some of them seeming to reach a plateau. They perhaps need more time & materials for practice & consolidation.

Everybody is slightly different and everybody is allowed to go at their own pace, building their skill and confidence as they need to.

FRED's original constitution was purely worded in terms of the reading side of literacy, but recognising our learners' ongoing requirements meant we took the decision to widen that wording to include literacy generally. But that brings challenges. More & different training for coaches; more supporting resources for extra practice in reading, writing & spelling.

Hence the bid. But please don't think that FRED doesn't need your help if it might get money from Awards for All.

Grant making bodies want bids that are 'projects' - in other words, they don't want to pay for ongoing costs. Our coaches give massively of their time. We still need to be able to cover transport costs, phone calls, postage, stationery.......so if you'd like to help, please send a cheque to

Frank Rainer, Treasurer, Oaklands, George Road, Yorkley, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4TL

made out to Forest Read Easy Deal. You have my thanks. 

I refered to the pleasures of word games a few posts back. Writing this bid has enlightened me to the fact that crosswords, word searches and other word games can all play a part in reading, writing & spelling practice!

And reminds me of something I heard on Radio 4 on the way to work the other day. A wordgame called 'Wordaholics'. One round required contestants to suggest new words for potential new phobias. This contestant swore blind she actually suffered from hers: Prunidigitophobia - the fear of getting wrinkly skin from staying too long in the bath!

It's a good job I don't suffer from it. Though the idea of it did put me off having water births for my babies!