Readers' Stories

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.”

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