Helping adults rediscover confidence through reading and writing.

Read for Life provides free, one-to-one literacy support for adults in Beeston, Holbeck, and the surrounding area. We work alongside adults to help build confidence, independence, and everyday reading and writing skills in a safe and encouraging space where they can learn at their own pace.

How we help

Why we exist

Difficulties with reading and writing can affect everyday life in ways many people never see — filling in forms, helping children with homework, understanding letters, applying for jobs, using public transport, or simply feeling independent and confident. Many adults live with these challenges for years, feeling stuck and unable to access opportunities that others take for granted. It can also affect family life, making it harder for parents and carers to support children with reading and learning, contributing to a cycle that can continue across generations.

After years of working alongside families and communities in South Leeds, we saw how deeply adult literacy affects confidence, wellbeing, opportunities, and family life. We also saw how many adults were living with these challenges quietly, without the support they needed

Read for Life was created to help change that — offering patient, personal support within the community and helping adults build skills and confidence.