Laois and Offaly Regional Literacy Coalition empowering communities
Roisin Lawlor and members of the team from Laois Sports Partnership
One of my earliest memories is of my mother reading to me, the world opening before me as I realised there was a connection between the words she was speaking and the funny squiggles on the page.
This began a lifelong love of written language, both in my work and leisure time, and one that I have shared with my own children.
But when you take this ability for granted, it’s easy to forget just how difficult reading and writing can be for many people. International Literacy Day on 8 September provided an ideal opportunity for anyone who needed help to contact the many local agencies that offer support.
Central to this is the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) strategy, which aims to ensure that everyone feels included and enabled to participate fully in society.
Laois and Offaly Regional Literacy Coalition – working for our region
The ten-year ALL strategy underpinned by the goal of creating an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential.
Literacy is a human right that allows us to engage effectively with others, access public services, understand and act on new information and use technology.
Launching the strategy, then minister for higher education Simon Harris said: “We know literacy is a form of power. So let us empower everyone in Ireland to be their best possible selves.”
The Laois and Offaly Regional Literacy Coalition’s role is to embed the work of the National ALL Strategy. The coalition is led by Eileen Dunne, LOETB inclusion manager, as chairperson, with Louise Larkin, SICAP manager with Offaly Local Development Company as vice-chair, and Tamara Latham, LOETB regional literacy co-ordinator as secretary.
Seventeen other local organisations across the community, family and health sectors form the coalition. The aim is to create supports that ensure all members of society feel included and empowered.
Local initiatives supporting Adult Literacy for Life to promote the coalition's work and the implementation of ALL, two community events were hosted recently across Laois and Offaly.
These events strengthened the cross-county bonds working within communities to highlight the variety of supports available in education, community, finance, health, family and more.
Jam-packed afternoons of fun were had at community summer events in Kilnacourt in Portarlington and St Columba’s in Tullamore, which drew the crowds for an array of tasty treats and cookery demonstrations, a robotics demonstration, fun games for adults and children, story time sessions with the libraries and health information and screening by the HSE.
Jeca the Clown brought smiles to the faces of the young participants, who also got the chance to see the workings of an operational fire truck, thanks to the attendance of the fire brigade, and the community guards also jumped onboard for tug-o-war. All activities were fun, educational and informative.
The ALL Strategy and the Laois and Offaly Regional Literacy Coalition will continue to strive to support our local communities by creating access supports, making it easier for those with unmet literacy needs to take the next step.
If you would like help with your reading or writing, or to get further information on how you can get involved, contact your local Adult Learning Centre, Laois 057 8661338, Offaly 057 9349444, or get in touch with your regional literacy co-ordinator for LOETB on 085 8560160, email tlatham@loetb.ie.
