Anti-Stigma Campaign research project
Address stigma: Tell a fuller story of unmet literacy needs
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“Some people assume that everybody has the chance in Ireland to go to school - that everyone gets the same chance. And so if, if I can read, why can't you?” (Focus Group: Education and Training Sector staff member)
Kilkenny and Carlow Regional Adult Literacy Coalition commissioned research to explore perceptions and experience of unmet literacy needs among staff providing services to the public in 2024.
This involved 283 staff across Counties Kilkenny and Carlow. Nineteen adults, with unmet literacy needs, also shared their experience of using public services.
The research highlighted a need to address stigma around unmet literacy needs. This can be achieved by telling a new story that communicates a fuller concept and understanding.
This should first include an explanation of the stigma and where it comes from. It should also include:
information on the extent and impact of unmet literacy needs,
who may have an unmet literacy need,
what has got in the way of adults developing literacy skills, and
challenge the negative beliefs that some people hold about unmet literacy needs.
Organisations should adopt an organisation-wide approach to create a culture and environment that supports staff and volunteers, and adults with unmet literacy needs, who use their services.
This should include training tailored to the sector, organisation and specific role. Training should raise awareness and provide knowledge of unmet literacy needs, and promote trauma awareness, communication skills and empathy.
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“I have missed out on so much. I would love to be able to sit down with a magazine or paper, it looks wonderful. I can’t help my children with homework, which makes me sad. I love to hear my children reading and I am so proud of them when I hear them reading but I should be able to help them more. I can’t open a bank account because I don’t understand how they work, and I would be afraid that I would make a mistake.” (Lived Experience Case study)
This project was developed as an action from the Kilkenny and Carlow Regional Adult Literacy Coalition (RALC).
For more information about the project, please contact Helen Walsh, Regional Literacy Coordinator in Kilkenny Carlow ETB, at helenm.walsh@kilkennycarlowetb.ie
The Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports projects for adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs and projects that support organisations to be literacy friendly. The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed but keep an eye out for information on our 2025 fund which will be launched in December.
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