Georgina to highlight adult education needs after starring on TV
A MOORLANDS tutor wants to kickstart a campaign to raise awareness about adult education needs after starring in the first episode of a new Channel 4 programme looking at Britain’s low adult literacy rates.
Georgina Smith, from Leek, was teamed up with North Staffordshire neighbour Tommy Dawkins for TV show The Write Offs, which aired on Monday night.
And they have become firm friends off-air too after Georgina – a dyslexic assessor tutor – offered support to Port Vale fan Tommy.
The show – hosted by former Great British Bake Off presenter Sandi Toksvig – brings together a group of adults as they try to overcome, with the help of professionals, the one thing that’s always held them back, as well as lifting the stigma around illiteracy.
Stars of the show, including Tommy, were paired with a professional from their area who could offer them support with their literacy. The pupils were tested before and after the series to see their improvement.
Tommy, aged 67, has struggled with his literacy throughout his life.
After working on the potbanks, he was a union representative for 15 years, before finally revealing to those around him that he struggled reading and writing. He now does presentations about dyslexia and travels the country to educate others, with his passion for the subject earning him an MBE in 2002.
He explained: “People have said to me, ‘Tommy, I don’t know how you did it.’ But I used my common sense and knew right from wrong in my jobs. My personality played a big part in enabling me to hide the fact that I was struggling. If I went to a meeting, I always had my hand up and asked lots of questions.
“If someone gave me a form to fill out, I’d tell them I didn’t have time or I didn’t have my glasses and then I’d take it home for someone else to fill in. I have all of my grandchildren’s names tattooed on my arm so I can tell people how to spell them.”
Thanks to Georgina’s support, Tommy saw a huge improvement in himself in the show.
Now Georgina wants to start a campaign to raise awareness about adult education needs.
She said: “It’s about working with both employers and employees. We need to empower adults to feel confident about coming forward to their employer, and we need employers to be able to support those employees. It makes for a more efficient, happier workforce. A workplace should be accessible for employees and they shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed about asking for support.
“There’s a whole generation of people who are still struggling and illiteracy impacts a whole host of things, including social activities, such as going to the pub and reading a newspaper with a pint or being able to catch the right bus or train.”
She added: “Tommy is such a well-loved character from his local community and he’s a big personality. I gelled with him straightaway and we just got on from the word go.
“When I work with adults, it’s always about having a personal and professional relationship. You have to make it a safe place and make sure they know it’s okay to make mistakes.
“It’s less about being a student and a teacher and more about having both a personal and professional relationship with mutual respect. It’s just two adults working together.”
You can watch The Write Offs demand with Channel 4. on