World Book Day 2020 Student and Volunteer Book Recommendations

World Book Day 5th March

PRESS RELEASE

Remember illiteracy issues on World Book Day, appeals local MBE charity head

Struggling with reading? You are not alone

28 February 2020: As the UK celebrates World Book Day on 5 March, literacy charity Turn Around is asking communities to think about those who struggle to read at all.

A 2019 study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that 25% of 15-year-olds had problems with basic aspects of reading, while the 2016 OECD Skills Study suggests that more than a quarter of working-age adults in England are illiterate, innumerate or both.

Based in St Mary Cray, Orpington, the Turn Around charity provides free one-to-one tuition in reading, writing and basic maths. Founder and trustee Michelle Paul MBE commented: “Literacy and numeracy – that many of us take for granted – are crucial to a happier, more inclusive society and an enriched workforce, helping to create a healthy economy. The consequences of not having these skills include being unable to get a job, tell the time, travel or engage socially. These in turn often cause low self-esteem, ill health and depression.”

Michelle added: “On World Book Day, we want to let those that struggle with reading know that they are not alone. We are here to help so they can build key skills – and also enjoy the wealth of stories being celebrated today.”

Turn Around plays a pivotal role by providing one-to-one tuition to help obtain essential life skills - from telling the time to completing a job application.

To enable more adults and children to benefit, Turn Around is calling for the government to:

1.       Return primary school maths teaching to the early introduction of methods tried and tested over the centuries including repetition. Bringing back the teaching of phonics in literacy since 2009 has already improved outcomes for many primary school children. This will ensure children receive a thorough grounding in reading, writing and maths, making it easier to teach them other subjects.

2.       Launch a nationwide programme to reach and teach illiterate and innumerate adults, enabling them to play a rewarding role in society and contribute to the economy.

Michelle started to teach children and adults in the 1980s and has since helped more than 1500 children and adults. In 2006 she set up the Turn Around charity to further this work – leading to an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

The charity is looking for volunteers to Turn someone’s life Around at The Exchange in St Mary Cray or at one of our outreach centres in Anerley, Bromley, Downham and Mottingham. Please email turnaroundinfo@gmail.com or call Lynn Bird on 07794 385 553 if you’d be interested in finding out how you might be able to make a difference in someone’s life.

ENDS

About Turn Around: We help people to improve their literacy and numeracy through free one-to-one tuition, enabling both children and adults to Turn their lives Around by building essential life skills and seizing social and economic opportunities.

Discover more at http://turnaroundcharity.org.uk/

For more information, please contact Michelle Paul on 07932 034 479 or Lynn Bird on 07794 385 553

Turn Around is closed for half-term from Thursday 13^th February. We are back open at normal times from Monday 24^th February.

Greater Londoner - BBC London Interview with Michelle Paul MBE

Turn Around founder, Michelle Paul, was interviewed by BBC London People, for their Great Londoner series. 

Read and share here

Michelle Paul MBE

Happy New Year everyone!

Some amazing news to start 2020, Turn Around's founder, trustee, tutor and tutor trainer, Michelle Paul, has been awarded an MBE in the New Years Honour List. This is well deserved recognition of Michelle's years of dedication to the Turn Around project that she founded in 2005 and the hundreds of people she has helped. Michelle would like to extend her thanks and appreciation to all those who have been involved with Turn Around over the years. Read all about it and share our good news here in the latest edition of the Bromley Times.

Turn Around Winter Journal 2019

The latest Turn Around Winter Journal 2019

is now available online with fundraising news, plus some wonderful contributions from students and volunteers.

We hope you enjoy!

 

Last orders for Eunice's traditional Christmas cakes is Thursday 5th December.

  Half Term Dates

Turn Around will be closed for the week of half-term 

From Monday 21st October

We are back open at normal times from Monday 28th October.

Happy Autumn!