THE praises of an adult literary charity have been sung by Lord Jones of Birmingham at its first fund-raising lunch in Moreton.

Lord Digby Jones, a businessman and politician who sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords, was guest speaker at the Fire Service College venue hosted by Read Easy UK.

The locally-based national charity helps adults with poor literacy skills learn to read and has boasted some great results in the Cotswolds. Figures show that more than six per cent of the population struggles with literacy.

At the event Lord Jones entertained an exclusive group of 100 guests with his talk covering a range of subjects including the importance of adult literacy, the work done by Read Easy UK, The EU referendum, and House of Lords Reform. His talk was punctuated with many amusing anecdotes.

Read Easy UK is based in Blockley and now has around 20 volunteer groups in different parts of the country, including a group in the North Cotswolds. Since Read Easy started with its first group in Dorset in 2010, it has already helped more than 400 adults learn to read.

Read Easy’s vision is for all adults in the UK to have the literacy skills they need to realise their potential and to live life to the full.

Ginny Williams-Ellis, founder and CEO of Read Easy UK said: “We’re so grateful to Lord Digby Jones for his support and for speaking at our fundraising lunch. We received fantastic support from local businesses and individuals who have sponsored us, bought tickets and made generous donations.

“We have raised much needed funds that will help us expand, but equally importantly, the event has made many more people aware of what we do. We are looking for ‘pioneers’ to start new groups, and we want to reach out to more people who want to learn to read, but who may not be aware of our confidential one-to-one service.”

In the Cotswolds, 6.5 per cent of the working age population have such low reading skills that they struggle even to do things such as shopping or using public transport -Skills for Life Survey, 2011, Dept. BIS. Such difficulties also make it very difficult for them to find employment.

Lord Digby Jones said: “Having a skilled population is the only way an economy like ours can succeed in this Asian Century. Basic skills are the bedrock of that advantage and adult literacy and numeracy is the Number One achievable aim.”

For more information about Easy Read contact Catherine Roffe on 01451 861774 or email: catherine.roffe@btinternet.com