A budding Selkirk writer spoke this week about how an adult learning programme transformed her life, writes Mark Inchley.
Last month, Eleanor Coulson joined with other adult learners from across the country for International Literacy Day to celebrate their achievements, including the launch of a book written and produced by the Borders group.
The book, Have I Got Wor
ds For You, was published earlier this year and contains stories, poems and illustrations by local learners, reflecting on what success in learning means to them.
Eleanor, who contributed stories and illustrations as well as working as part of the editorial team that compiled the book, told us: “I have dyscalculia and it meant I grew up thinking I was stupid. It affects your confidence and when you’re low on confidence you constantly feel stressed.
“But through learning, you feel more of a sense of inner peace.
“Working on the book has been eye-opening and the International Literacy Day was so humbling. There was a whole range of people there from prisoners to others who were deaf and blind. It was moving seeing people getting up and reading their stories or poems. One lady read her poems in sign language with a translator.”
Despite growing up with dyscalculia, a condition that affects a person’s grasp of mathematical skills, the 57-year-old childminder has gone on to win several learners’ awards as an adult and is a member of the local adult learners group Peacefinders.
She added: “I’d really encourage others with literacy problems to get in touch with the Peacefinders group. It’s really helped me grow in confidence and given me lots of new opportunities.”
Adult literacies development worker Neil Gunn said: “Eleanor has done really well and we’re very proud of her.
“She and others from the group have also won other local and national awards in the past.”
Councillor Graham Garvie, SBC’s executive member for culture, sports and community learning and development, added: “We are proud of all our learners – they are an inspiration both to other learners and to the tutors who support them.
“We hope that their stories will help other people to take that important first step back into learning.”
For more information on adult learning opportunities contact Neil Gunn on 01750 20684 or call the Big Plus on freephone 0808 100 1080.
The full article contains 400 words and appears in Selkirk Weekend Advertiser newspaper.
