Throughout Ireland, lots of people are returning to learning and brushing up on their reading, writing and maths skills. They are people who want to catch up on the skills they missed at school, parents who want to help children with their homework, farmers who would like help with form filling and reading documentation, and there are those who would simply like to write a letter or send an email.

Whatever the reason, the benefits are always the same. Not only do people improve their old skills but they also gain the confidence to go on to learn new ones. Although it requires some hard work, it’s a great experience that opens up a whole new world of opportunities in a friendly and relaxed environment. And it’s not like going back to school. Everyone learns at their own pace and there aren’t any exams at the end.

If you need to find out more just come visit the National Adult Literacy Agency where you can meet our friendly students who will tell you about all the options available to you – they know every question you have because they were once in your position.

The important thing to remember is that it is never too late to return to learning and the benefits are great. And you are not alone – at the moment there are nearly 45,000 adults attending VEC adult literacy services nationwide. You can learn one-to-one, in a group in a local VEC or over the phone or internet with a tutor.