Breaking the cycle of literacy problems
One in six adults struggle to read and understand information, while one in four face difficulties with basic maths. For some, unmet literacy needs can lead to low educational attainment, reduced income, poor health and higher unemployment rates. An Post has launched Unlocking Life literacy initiative, which aims to support those who struggle with unmet literacy needs.
Working with their partners in literacy, the campaign aims to raise awareness of reading and writing needs among adults and children and to support the work of those organisations dedicated to addressing the challenge.
An Post will partner with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), Children’s Books Ireland and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Debbie Byrne, Managing Director, An Post Retail, remarked: “Right now, one in six adults in Ireland can feel locked out of life because they struggle with reading and understanding information. At An Post, we’re supporting reading and writing programmes for adults and children all over Ireland to help empower and unlock opportunity for everyone. In a world built on words, struggling with reading and writing keeps people locked out of participating in everyday life.
“People facing literacy challenges are more likely to report poor health, political disengagement, low participation in volunteer activities, and decreased trust in others.
An Post has had a longstanding commitment to literacy in Ireland for over 20 years, but through our commitment to Unlocking Life we will reach out to our fellow citizens, many of whom feel like they have been locked out of some aspects of life due to unmet literacy needs.”
The An Post Unlocking Life will have both a child and an adult stream of activity.
Children’s Stream
As part of the children’s stream An Post is partnering with BITCI (Business in the Community Ireland) as the headline sponsor of their Time to Read & Time to Count programmes. An Post staff will volunteer in local schools, providing paired-reading sessions and support to help unlock the potential of disadvantaged children. The An Post Time to Count numeracy support programme will improve children’s confidence and enjoyment of numbers through playing specifically selected board games while the An Post Time to Read will pair An Post staff with a student reading buddy for reading sessions using a range of books to improve students literacy through enjoyment.
A separate BITCI Student Mentoring Programme will pair An Post staff with post-primary, senior cycle students for monthly one-to-one mentoring sessions at An Post premises.
Also, An Post engagement on the BITCI World of Work programme will also see employees give insights into the future working world.
Adult Stream
In the Adult Stream, An Post supports Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) - a ten year Strategy that ensures we take a whole of Government and whole of society approach to literacy.
The ALL Strategy’s vision is of an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential.
Through Unlocking Life, An Post will partner with NALA, the Regional Literacy Coordinators and Education and Training Boards Ireland in supporting awareness building through selected Post Offices in September 2023.
An Post will support NALA’s work to help improve adults’ reading and writing skills by running an advertising recruitment campaign to encourage adults to return to education this autumn.