Bringing Words to Life, a North East literacy charity, has helped dozens of vulnerable adult learners in Northumberland improve their reading and writing skills with the support of a £10,000 grant from The Bernicia Foundation.
Since 2013, the charity has worked across Newcastle, Gateshead, and Northumberland to improve literacy and communication skills in some of the country’s lowest-performing areas, as identified by the National Literacy Trust. Each year, over 700 people, aged 22 to 70, gain confidence and skills in reading, writing, and self-expression through their programmes.
In England, 18% of adults aged 16 to 65, around 6.6 million people, have very poor literacy skills, impacting their daily lives and opportunities, with the North East among the worst-affected regions.
The charity delivered 96 one-hour workshops between October 2024 and July 2025, supporting 30 local learners with a range of difficulties including dyslexia, ADHD, neurodivergence, physical disabilities, and mental health challenges. The sessions focus on practical literacy skills such as letter writing, form filling, and general communication, tailored to each learner’s pace to encourage engagement.
Reducing isolation and building independence
Bringing Words to Life uses journalistic skills to help learners rebuild confidence and express themselves. In 2022/23, 97% of participants said they would continue to engage with the charity due to feeling valued.
Bringing Words to Life has worked with carers, youth offending teams, teen parents, and over one hundred schools across the region, consistently demonstrating improvements in basic literacy, confidence, teamwork, and motivation.
A Creative and Supportive Learning Environment
Workshops were partly held at Northern Butterflies studio in Cramlington, a creative charity led by artist and former teacher Sam Goodlet, offering a supportive space for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs to flourish.
The Founder and CEO of Bringing Words to Life charity, Melanie J Cornish-Fleet said:
“We believe writing with purpose is for everyone. This grant from the Bernicia Foundation allows us to reach people who often feel overlooked by traditional learning environments, giving them practical support and the confidence to make their voices heard. It’s about independence, empowerment, and inclusion.”
Consultations with learners and their families have highlighted how lack of confidence and early negative experiences with education have affected many adults. Bringing Words to Life and Northern Butterflies provide a safe, supportive environment where learners can progress at their own speed and develop both skills and self-belief.
The next round of Bernicia Foundation Inclusion Grant applications is open until 31st December 2025. Community groups and charities aiming to make a positive impact in the North East are encouraged to apply at berniciafoundation.com.
