Supporting adults to learn to read: CLA’s donation to Read Easy

Today, on International Literacy Day, we’re highlighting the work of Read Easy, one of the charities supported through CLA’s Development Fund.

For many of us, reading is something we do without thinking, checking a train timetable, making a doctor’s appointment, reading the instructions on medication or filling in a form. But for the 2.4 million adults in England who struggle to read or cannot read at all, these everyday tasks can present significant barriers.

Read Easy is working to change that.

The charity provides free, confidential and personalised one-to-one reading coaching for adults through a nationwide network of 80 affiliated Read Easy Groups across England. Its vision is simple: every adult who wants to learn to read, can.

The impact of learning to read

Learning to read can have an impact far beyond the words on a page. It can open up employment opportunities, make everyday tasks easier and help people feel more confident and connected to their communities.

During 2024/25, Read Easy supported 1,844 Readers, with the help of 2,245 volunteers contributing 377,520 hours of support.

Among the adults supported:

• 96% said they felt more confident after learning to read.
• 73% said they were more likely to take part in social events and make new friends.
• 68% of Readers with children or grandchildren said they were more likely to read stories with them.

The difference can be found in seemingly small moments that many people take for granted. As one Reader explained:

“When I’m on the bus, I can read the school plaques and the street signs. I look at things differently and notice words everywhere.”

Another shared:

“I was able to send a Valentine’s Day card to my wife for the first time.”

Supporting Read Easy through CLA’s Development Fund

Read Easy is one of five charities receiving support from CLA’s Development Fund this year.

 

CLA established its Policy for Undistributed Amounts in 2019. Under the policy, certain monies relating to non-UK rightsholders that CLA has been unable to distribute after three years can be reallocated to members for distribution or added to the Development Fund.

Since 2020, the Development Fund has supported good causes across the creative industries, alongside initiatives helping to develop collective licensing overseas.

CLA’s donation to Read Easy will support its work providing the infrastructure, resources, training, safeguarding and guidance that enable its network of volunteers to deliver high-quality reading coaching to adults across England.

“We are delighted to have support from the CLA Development Fund. Every day we see the profound difference that learning to read makes, from parents being able to read to their children to adults gaining the confidence to apply for jobs or manage everyday tasks independently. This funding will help us extend our life-changing support, including development of our online coaching programme. This will make Read Easy more accessible to more adults, regardless of their location or circumstances.” – Carla Priddon, Chief Executive Officer, Read Easy UK

 

By supporting Read Easy, the Development Fund is helping more adults gain a skill that can transform their independence, confidence and ability to participate fully in everyday life.

As International Literacy Day shines a light on the importance of literacy around the world, Read Easy’s work is a powerful reminder of the difference that learning to read can make much closer to home.

Find out more about Read Easy and its work here: readeasy.org.uk

You can find out more about CLA’s Development Fund here: cla.co.uk/about-us/copy-right