THE BEN has written its own success story - thanks to a special reading scheme.

So successful has the newspaper's Story Search scheme been that Bolton Community Education Service has asked for a second version for its adult literacy programme.

The scheme was also given the thumbs up by a group of adults at an English workshop course at Clarence Street Community Education Centre.

They enjoyed it so much that they asked for another reading programme to follow on from the first.

Story Search was developed by the Newspapers In Education scheme and has been used by schools throughout the area for the last three years.

But this was the first time it had been used with adults.

Literacy tutor Kath Morgan heard about the reading programme and thought it could help her students improve their reading, writing and spelling.

And the six students on the English course, aged between 29 and 60, have proved that you're never too old to learn.

One of them, Peter Gilmore, said he had struggled all his life because he couldn't read and write. Even simple tasks like catching a bus or train, or going shopping were an ordeal.

Now all six have written their own newsletter and are confident enough to read out loud in the workshop sessions.

Kath Morgan and volunteer tutor Jenny Hamer told the BEN that working on Story Search had greatly improved their literacy skills, and the group had really benefited from working together. Kath said: "They have all gained confidence from sharing ideas and expressing their opinions in discussion."

Kevan Devenport said he liked using the Bolton Evening News as a learning aid because it contained local stories and he enjoyed looking for different types of stories.

Kevan is enthusiastic about a second Story Search programme. "We need something more challenging now," he said.

For more details about adult literacy courses, ring Romy Garcia-Lucas of the Community Education Service on 01204-527995. Or for more details about Story Search, contact Angelina Aspinall at the BEN on 01204-522345, ext 315.

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