"At school I never really grasped reading and spelling, but it was especially my spelling that had bothered me. When I retired I promised myself two things, that I would go back to English classes and learn how to swim.

The tutor Linda is very good. She puts you in groups where you are similar and she takes time with you and she treats all of you like individuals. You learn not to be embarrassed, you are with other people who are like you.

In April Linda told us about Six Book Challenge. I hadn't been to the library since I was a school - I never bothered even though my lad did: he is in the Army now, and has always been an avid reader.

We all had to meet at the library, and we looked at the books for the Challenge, and they explained that we had to read six books. I thought: 'This will be good for me.' I got going, and I had to write what I thought about the books in my reading diary, then get it stamped as proof that you had read the books.

I never knew that reading was such a pleasure until I joined Six Book Challenge. It has encouraged me to read fiction and non-fiction. I've been reading all sorts of things. The Quick Reads are really good for me, I have been reading some big books but these are really good.

Reading has given me new things to talk to other people about. One of my neighbours reads a lot. He asked me what I was reading and he said he would get me a copy of one of the books he had enjoyed. I would not have been able to have that sort of conversation before.

I have read 37 books since I started the Challenge. I would never have thought of going to the library: Six Book Challenge has given me that little push I needed.

Once I have really got to grips with my spelling, I am thinking about doing some more classes. I would like to do something with computers, and I'd also like to go on and do craft work classes. And soon I will go onto more bigger books. Reading makes you think. I have really come on now - with the Six Book Challenge I can understand things and it's helped me to understand why writers write what they do. It has really changed me around, it really has. It doesn't matter how old you are, you are never too old to try."

"Before I came to Treloar College, I was at a special school where I struggled with reading and writing. I've got a problem with my sight and I didn't like to admit to anyone that I couldn't cope in class. I was really nervous about having to read or write anything. I felt I was missing out in life because I couldn't read everyday stuff.

But when I came to Treloar College, the staff used their expertise to help me read. For the past year, I've been working on a one-to-one literacy scheme and my reading and spelling are a lot better.

When I found out that my tutor group were doing the Six Book Challenge, I was really excited because I wanted to improve my reading. I started off with easy books and the staff enlarged the text for me if it was too small to read. As I got better, I moved on to harder books and I started to really enjoy reading.

Before I did the Six Book Challenge I didn't want to visit a library. I was too embarrassed because I couldn't read. But now I feel good about libraries because our Learning Resource Centre has a range of books at different levels which I can read.

Since I did the Six Book Challenge, I have been getting more reading support from tutors and staff at Treloar College, so that I can keep improving my pronunciation and spelling. I have also joined the Peer Support Group at college where we listen to each others' problems and give advice. I feel I can understand people better now and I can express myself more easily because I know more words.

Being able to read has really boosted my confidence and I feel good about myself. Now I can relax and read about things I am interested in. If you are thinking about doing the Six Book Challenge but you have some 'hang-ups' about reading, I'd say 'Go for it!' You will never look back. You will keep going on and on to what you want to achieve in life."

"Because I'm dyslexic, I've always had trouble with my spelling and writing. But I have a big family, I held down two jobs, and life was always busy, so I never really had the chance to do anything about it. When I heard about the Challenge I thought this is something I can do for me. There was absolutely no pressure on us to do it, or to have to finish, and that was important to me, because at the back of my mind I was thinking 'Oh no, what if I fail?'

At first I did find it a bit hard to get back into the habit of reading, but even if you just take five or ten minutes, and even if you are just reading one or two pages each time, you do get back into it. When I completed the Challenge I felt proud of myself. I thought 'Yes I've done it!' I enjoyed using my voucher at the coffee shop, and I enjoyed going to the presentation evening we had, where I got my certificate.

I'm going to be doing the Six Book Challenge again this year - it starts up again in a couple of week and I can't wait!

At the end of the Challenge, Kath suggested that I have a go at creative writing classes. I've always made up stories in my head but I've never had the confidence before to write them up. But I've started writing. Not to show anyone, but I write all sorts of things, like perhaps a little poem that might come to me. I've even started to write a book. It feels like I'm seeing things with a new pair of eyes."