Shaun's story: Reading the newspaper

SHAUN

My name is Shaun Allison and I'm from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. I didn't enjoy going to school. English was my worst subject – I didn't like it and I couldn't do it.

I was classed as being a bit 'thick', that's what I was called. I've always remembered that and, I've… to be honest, I think I believed it.

One of the jobs that I had when I left school was being a labourer. I used to put these signs up but I didn't necessarily understand them. Some of the words, you know, I might be able to read it but I don't really understand what it actually means.

I used to get one of the lads to read the newspaper to me and I'd bribe him by saying, "Read that article to me and I'll give you a cigarette."

When work started to dry up, I started getting involved in crime. Once I'd started going to probation, it was the probation service that advised me to go to college. And I was dreading it and dreading it and dreading it and then I met the tutor who was going to be teaching us, and she was brilliant! Not like at school.

Now I can read the local newspaper and now I run a reading group every Friday at my local library, and it's brilliant. So now I help other people to read and I'm trying to get them all to the level that I'm at.

[Reading to his reading group] "Let it go, Jack, and stop being stupid." Does anybody else want to read any?

LEARNER

I will, if you want. "When we get through…"

SHAUN

I've basically turned my back on crime, and being able to read and write has actually empowered me. My job prospects, now, are a lot better now.

I'm looking at working with offenders, because I'm sure reading and writing has helped me to change my life.