Amity's Students

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A Typical Student, and How They Find Us

Our Students are referred to us by a wide variety of agencies, less frequently they come to us through self referral.

Typically our Students will have some life experience which has inculcated the desire to learn. In practice they range in years from school leavers to pensioners. The ethnic mix of the individual Clubs reflects the communities in which we work.

Many of our Students have special learning problems which exacerbate their difficulties in learning to write and read. These handicaps can take many forms, both physical and mental. However, the common thread for most is that conventional class based tuition is unsuited to their needs or abilities.

The Student Sets The Agenda

Amity’s approach of one-to-one tuition is ideal, it gives the Student a concentration of tuition on exactly their area of interest and motivation of the moment, it can be adjusted to their specific learning needs and level of skills development and can readily adapt to the dynamic of the tuition session.

In addition, the context of one-to-one tuition in a Club setting is a highly supportive environment for a Student. It takes away the sense of isolation that illiteracy can bring and the sense that their inability to read is obvious to all. The community of the Clubs allows an opportunity to test and expand opinions and awareness, which in turn provides a healthy environment for the development of maturity and life skills.

Developing the Individual

Association with our Volunteers is also a valuable feature, for these are often individuals our Students would not normally meet, except in positions of authority. In the Clubs the Students meet them on a level footing, have their opinions respected and thus develop a wider perspective of society.

Our policy of Social Support  is focused to respond to the needs of individual Students as they arise. It is an integral part of our approach and complements the other aspects of our work to develop the maturity and social skills of Students to match their growing Literacy skills.

For most of our Students the decision to seek help with their literacy problems is a long term commitment for a period of several years. The Clubs’ approach to tuition is designed to foster that commitment avoid discouragement and ensure the Student is able to follow through and attain their goals.