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The profile of a charity helping adults learn to read has been boosted by winning a 大象传媒 Radio Solent Make a Difference Award, its volunteers have said.

Read Easy Southampton won the 2023 Community Group Award.

The Southampton branch is one of 80 groups nationwide, with volunteers offering free, one-to-one coaching to adults who want to learn to read.

Nominations are open for the 2024 Make a Difference Awards which recognise those helping their local communities.

The annual awards shine a light on people going above and beyond in their local communities.

Southampton's Read Easy branch started in 2021, with volunteer reading coaches so far helping dozens of adults with their literacy skills.

An estimated 10,000 people in the city struggle with reading.

The charity's Linda Gatland said volunteers were "thrilled" to have been shortlisted in the Community Group category.

"We knew being nominated would get us better known and raise our profile which was important," she said.

Colleague Alison Ford said it was a "delight" to have won.

"There were so many other organisations that could have won, but it was such a proud moment to know we'd been recognised," she said.

"It has brought people to us - readers who have wanted to come and get support for their reading skills, it's increased our social media profile and media reach, and so has made us better known.

"I like saying, 'We're not just a local charity, we're an award-winning local charity'."

Nominations are now open and will close on Sunday 10th March 2024 at 11:00pm. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/makeadifference to see full Terms and our Privacy Notice.

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