DOZENS of adults who find it difficult to read, will now get help to improve their skills after a charity expanded its services.

The Read Easy project set up a Blackbird Leys group two years ago, and it has proved so successful it is now expanding across the city.

The Oxford group, part of a national charity, holds intensive one-to-one literacy sessions lasting between six and 18 months.

The initiative was started after figures from the Oxfordshire Learning Partnership found that 25 per cent of adults in Blackbird Leys had poor literacy skills, and 36 per cent had no formal qualifications.

Volunteers from across Oxford signed up to help coach people to get better at reading.

Of the dozens of people helped so far, the group said many had seen 'transformations' in their lives as they improved their reading skills.

It said the improvements may help people get a better job, sign up for further training, or start to read with their children and grandchildren.

The chair of the group, Lynn Dowler, said learning to read "helped people play a full role in society."

She added: "We are still having young people leaving school without the literacy skills to play a full role in society and have full access to modern technology.

"Helping anyone of any age achieve the literacy skills necessary to enter the workplace, be good parents or grandparents and be involved in society is very worthwhile and rewarding."

Reading support will now be offered across the entire Oxford East parliamentary constituency including Headington, Barton, Rose Hill, and Wood Farm, while the existing activities in Blackbird Leys will continue.

The group also plan to offer a new programme of further reading and writing activities to people who have already been through the coaching to help them improve further.

Anyone who thinks they may need help can self-refer themselves to the service whilst other agencies such as Aspire Oxford and the Raw Workshop can also refer their clients.

An independent assessment is then carried out and each reader is matched with a suitable coach.

The East Oxford group is entirely run by volunteers and Ms Dowler has appealed for people who support the aims of the group to sign up as a coach.

For more information about Read Easy see readeasy.org.uk/groups/oxford-east/