Volunteer as a tutor
Adult education and literacy tuition is very different to learning in school. It primarily centres on the needs and interests of the learner. Very often adults with literacy difficulties had a negative experience of school and it is a very brave decision for them to return to education. If you watch an episode of Written Off? you will get an insight into the many reasons adults have literacy difficulties and the often life changing benefits they get from improving these skills.
If you would like to become a volunteer literacy tutor you will need to do some initial tutor training. This usually involves attending a class with other volunteers for one evening a week for about 6 weeks. Please note that all tutors are required to engage in Garda vetting without exception. Tutors may commence work once they have signed the declaration and the vetting application has been submitted to the appropriate Authority. You can use the map on this page to find the VEC Adult Literacy Services nationwide that provide volunteer tutor training.
If you contact the VEC Adult Literacy Service closest or most convenient to you, the Adult Literacy Organiser there will be able to tell you about the next available training session. When you finish this initial training, the Adult Literacy Organiser will then try to match you with an adult learner.
If you can read, are a good communicator and can empathise with and understand adults with literacy difficulties then you can help. Through some initial training you can support others in improving their reading and writing skills.
We wish you every success in becoming a literacy tutor. If you have any difficulty in getting onto a training course please call us and we will try to help you locate one.
