Literacy changes lives

Ex-New York gang leader and mafia insider, Louis Ferrante who read his first book in a maximum security prison while serving an 8 ½ year sentence - now out of prison he has published a book of memoirs that documents his journey from a life of crime to that of a professional writer - visited Rochdale and attended a literacy celebration event at the Town Hall where he shared his remarkable story. He said: “In prison I had a lot time to re-evaluate my life and how I had become such a low life that for the first time in my life I began to regret the things that I had done and the people I had hurt.

“I realised that I had a choice to make. I could choose to be different and lead a law abiding life if I truly wanted to. The day I decided to be different was the day my whole life changed. When I started to read I realised that I could escape beyond the prison walls. I read about people who had made something of themselves and I started to believe that is was not too late for me. From reading a book I began to think I could write book, and so that’s what I did.”

Research suggests there is a link between poor literacy and crime, with many prisoners not being able to read. Non readers are also more likely to be unemployed, less likely to vote and more likely to smoke and suffer depression.

Fifteen local people from all ages, backgrounds and walks of life also shared their inspiring stories and hopes for the future; describing how improved literacy has changed the lives of older and younger people, people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical or sensory impairments, asylum seekers, non English speakers and carers. The powerful message from all of these people was the importance of inclusion. One speaker said: “Literacy affects so much of our lives; it is a vital building block to improved self-esteem and confidence and with improved literacy comes improvements in many different aspects of life.“

Also speaking at the event was Terry Piggott, Executive Director at Rochdale Borough Council and Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust.

Terry Piggott outlined some of the year’s major achievements including how primary school children in Rochdale are overcoming social and economic barriers and are reading in line with the national averages. He said: “Reading is a fundamental skill and should be accessible to everyone. We need to make sure that people across Rochdale Borough have the opportunity to develop these skills and benefit from the social and economic gains that can be achieved be by those who can read.”

Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust added: “What has been happening in Rochdale has been extraordinary – there is real evidence that work here has succeeded in transforming communities and people’s lives.”

The campaign aimed to dispel some of the myths that reading is only to be enjoyed by bookworms. The benefits of reading all types of reading materials; including newspapers, magazines, the internet, were promoted to improve literacy in the borough.