Kerry conference to strengthen literacy and wellbeing supports

HSE South West is delighted to support a half day Literacy and Wellbeing conference in Kerry next week, aimed at those working in community services who support adults facing literacy challenges when accessing information and care. HSE South West is part of the Kerry Regional Adult Literacy Coalition which has organised the conference to take place Thursday 11 June at the Rose Hotel, Tralee. The conference is open to service providers across Kerry’s health, education, disability, community and voluntary sectors. With research showing that one in five Irish adults experience literacy difficulties, including reading, numeracy, digital skills, financial literacy and health literacy, the conference will help community services make their services accessible to anyone with a literacy difficulty. Funded through the Collaboration and Innovation Fund under the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy, the conference is co-ordinated by the Health Promotion and Improvement team at HSE South West and by Kerry Public Participation Network, on behalf of the Kerry Regional Adult Literacy Coalition. Máire O’Leary, Senior Health Promotion Officer, HSE South West, said: “This conference will offer practical guidance on using plain language, designing clearer forms and digital content, and recognising hidden literacy challenges. It will also provide space for collaboration and shared learning across organisations.” The event will explore five key areas of literacy: • Literacy — reading, writing, understanding information and building confidence • Financial literacy — budgeting, bills, banking and financial decision making • Family literacy — supporting children’s learning and engaging with schools • Digital literacy — using online services, forms, apps and digital tools • Health literacy — understanding medical information, appointments and care pathways Paula Tiller, Regional Literacy Co-ordinator for Kerry, commented: “Unmet literacy needs can significantly affect a person’s ability to access services, make informed decisions and participate fully in society. Increasing awareness across sectors is vital to ensuring people are not left behind.” Caroline Toal, Network Development Officer added: “Ideally, all service users should be able to act on a single reading of any material provided by any service. Clear communication is essential to ensuring people can access the supports they need.”