Adult Literacy & Numeracy

Glasgow Women’s Library provides one-to-one and group support to women who wish to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. We are a learner-led service, with learning plans tailored to women’s specific needs and wishes. You can find out more about how to get help with reading, writing and number skills here.

What we do

Following national policy, we aim to improve women’s critical awareness of literacy and numeracy as well as their technical skills. We achieve this through creative engagement, including discussion events, Women Leading through Reading projects and the use of a variety of media including film. We also utilise the unique resources available in the GWL collection, working with women to ensure that the collection is relevant and accessible to all women. In our learning environment women share experiences and learn from each other and are encouraged to view their own and other women’s lives and achievements as historic and of importance.

We provide one-to-one support with the help of our volunteer tutors, all of whom are ITALL qualified or currently studying to achieve this, as well as specialised support from our paid staff. We provide support within the library, and on an outreach basis when this is more comfortable for women. We are keen to work in partnership with other organisations to identify and support women with literacy and numeracy issues and to provide appropriate and innovative opportunities for learning.

ALN Programmes

Glasgow Women’s Library believes literacy and numeracy is about more than reading and writing. Understanding the world around us and being confident to tell people our opinions can make a huge difference to our lives. The ALN service therefore regularly holds events to support discussion around things that matter to us. In the past we have held film nights, where we have discussed women’s health, information nights on women’s experience of slavery and Hustings to allow women to question candidates in the Holyrood elections. The ALN team also works with other GWL colleagues to deliver ‘integrated’ learning events bringing together women with different skills, knowledge and experiences.