Florent’s story

I moved to London as the “trailing partner” after meeting my British spouse abroad.

As my job was remote and I therefore had little face-to-face interaction with my colleagues, I was looking for something to do outside work that got me a bit more human interaction, ideally with people living in the area so that I got to feel a bit more part of a community here in London that’s when I heard about Read Easy.

The Coordinator is first point of contact for adults wanting to learn to read. I am responsible for matching the reader with a suitable volunteer Reading Coach and then providing them with ongoing support. It has been a great way to get to know the local community. I speak to a diverse group of people living and working in our Borough every week, as our readers and our volunteers come from all walks of life. The only thing that binds them all is a passion for learning to read.

It’s been an absolute joy to see how our readers and coaches have been determined to keep reading and I got to feel a bit more part of a community here in London so Read Easy has been a perfect fit for me.

The Coordinating role can be a demanding one. However, it has never felt overwhelming as the team at Read Easy Hackney has offered so much support; having a dedicated management team with each member having a clear and specific role has made it so much easier to ask for help from someone when needed.

What has kept me going above all is seeing new Readers grow in confidence and ability as they move through the programme. The joy and enthusiasm the Readers show after they get over their initial nerves has been a light of joy!

Find out more about volunteering at Read Easy UK

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Volunteers

Help someone discover the joy of reading

A little of your time can open up whole new worlds for someone else. Find out how you can support learners and be part of the National Year of Reading across 2026.

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