Vernon Area Improves Local Literacy

A grant of $125,000 from Literacy Now Communities has helped support numerous projects, including a stand-alone Literacy Centre and literacy website; a seniors' literacy program; developing a literacy and computer centre for homeless people and adults who live in poverty at the Upper Room Mission; a youth literacy project in Lumby; and One to One, where volunteers read with elementary school children, which operates in every elementary school in the region.

Funds also helped support developing and facilitating "Parenting isn't Easy," a program to help at-risk families build their literacy skills; a partnership with Okanagan College to provide a non-threatening location for an adult Basic Skills Tune-up Program; and professional tutoring support for disadvantaged children and youth. Many community partners support this program by referring individuals, or covering the cost of tutoring.

Literacy Now Communities guides communities through a planning process to identify and address local literacy needs. The program focuses on building partnerships, networking and sharing best practices within BC's communities and regions. There are currently 96 task groups throughout BC working to improve local literacy. Literacy Now Communities is supported by the Province of British Columbia.