Abstract
Shame and previous negative experiences often deter literacy learners who speak English as their first language from attending programs. Carol Holden shares the practical strategies used at the literacy and numeracy hub: Here 2 Help that she runs in the Bega Valley in NSW.

Bio
Carol Holden is a teacher of language, literacy and numeracy at TAFE NSW in Bega and Moruya and previously taught English at high school and reading to struggling primary school students. The experience of having a severely dyslexic child prompted her to undertake post-graduate qualifications in Special Education with a focus on learning difficulties, in addition to her qualifications in teaching English and teaching English as an alternative language. In 2023 she founded Here 2 Help: a literacy and numeracy hub for adults that aims to reduce the barriers to education. It is a free drop-in centre with no enrolments or assessments, using volunteer tutors to help participants achieve their self-identified goals.