Read Easy Derby & District launches volunteer recruitment drive
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 21 July 2026
UPDATED: 22 July 2026
Read Easy Derby & District launches volunteer recruitment drive to meet rising demand for adult reading support
A Derby charity which helps adults in Derby to read has launched a major recruitment campaign for more volunteer reading coaches, as demand for its free, confidential adult reading support continues to grow.
Read Easy Derby & District warns that without additional volunteers, it risks being unable to meet the needs of the thousands of adults in and around Derby who struggle with reading.
According to national figures, 7% of adults in England have difficulty reading and in Derby alone, more than 19,000 people are affected. For many, this impacts every part of daily life, from reading signs and paying bills to supporting their children with homework or applying for work.
Read Easy Derby & District is entirely volunteer‑led, offering free, confidential, one-to-one coaching sessions that help adults build reading confidence at their own pace. The charity has helped many local adults graduate from its one‑to‑one reading programme.
The group now needs more coaches to work one‑to‑one with adults who want to improve their reading skills. Full induction, training, policies, resources and guidance are provided, including ongoing support from a Read Easy Coordinator. The role is suitable for anyone who enjoys reading and has a few hours to spare each month to help others.
Duncan Livsey, Read Easy Derby & District team leader, said: “Every week, we see how learning to read transforms confidence, independence and job prospects.
“Many of the people we work with had a poor experience in a school classroom or group setting, so our personal, confidential approach allows them to develop a supportive and trusting bond with their dedicated reading coach.
“But we can only change people’s lives if we have the volunteers to make it happen. Our reading coaches kindly give their time and expertise for free, while all our resources and training are funded by donations.
“We’re asking more local people to step forward so we can continue offering this vital support.”
The charity’s approach has already helped adults like Ted Midgely, from Derby, who left school unable to read and spent most of his life relying on friends and colleagues to get by. School never worked for him, and although his dyslexia was spotted, he left without the support he needed.
At 56, he turned to Read Easy Derby & District. Two years later, Ted graduated from the programme with the confidence to read texts, emails and written information, opening up new responsibilities at work and in his racing team. His proudest moment came when he finally read a 40‑year‑old copy of Speedway Star he’d kept since his teens.
He said: “I’d held onto that magazine for decades, hoping one day I’d be able to read it properly. When I finally did, I was buzzing. It proved I could do something I’d spent my whole life thinking I couldn’t.
“Read Easy didn’t just teach me to read. It gave me confidence I never thought I’d have.”
Stories like Ted’s are becoming increasingly common, but the group says it needs more volunteers to ensure no one is turned away. No teaching experience is required. Volunteers receive full training, ongoing support, and the chance to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. Roles are flexible and designed to fit around work, caring responsibilities or retirement.
Duncan Livsey added: “Every new volunteer means another adult in our community gets the chance to change their life. The demand is there and the need is real. If you’re able to give a little time each week, you’ll make a big difference to someone’s life We’d love to hear from you.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer reading coach should email derbyleader@readeasy.org.uk, call 07852 259112 or visit www.readeasy.org.uk/groups/derby for more information.
