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What is NALA.ie?
NALA.ie is the website of the National Adult Literacy Agency, an Irish charity focused on helping adults who need support with literacy and numeracy so they can take part fully in society. It combines three roles: a place to find free learning opportunities, a resource hub for tutors, and a source of research and policy work on literacy in Ireland.
What you can actually do there
- Learn: The "Free courses" section is aimed at adults who want to improve reading, writing, maths or digital skills. There is also a Freephone number listed for people who prefer to ask by phone.
- Teach or volunteer: Under "Tutors", the site gathers teaching resources, student workbooks, teaching guidelines, professional development, getting-started guidance and training events.
- Get plain English help: The "Plain English" service covers tips, editing and training, and a "Plain English Mark" for organisations that want their documents to be easier to read.
- Work on specific areas: Sections cover health literacy, family literacy, financial literacy, integrating literacy in further education, and workplace basic education.
- Read evidence and policy: "Research and policy" includes reports, submissions and material on access to public services, education and training, health literacy, and literacy and employment.
Who it suits
| If you are… | The most useful part is… |
|---|---|
| An adult wanting to improve skills | Free courses and student information |
| A tutor or volunteer | Tutor services, resources and training events |
| A public body, hospital or employer | Plain English, health literacy and workplace basic education |
| A researcher, journalist or policymaker | Research reports and policy submissions |
A practical first step: if you are looking for yourself, start with the free courses and the Freephone number; if you represent an organisation, look at the Plain English editing and training services before browsing the research. For comparison, Ireland's further education and training network is at Fetch Courses, and the national adult guidance service is at CareersPortal.
How can I find free adult literacy courses near me?
In Ireland, the practical starting point is the National Adult Literacy Agency's own course and tutor network rather than a generic course directory. NALA.ie lists Free courses and a Tutors area, and its freephone number (1800 20 20 65) is the fastest way to ask what is running locally, since provision is organised through local services rather than a single national timetable.
How to search in practice
- Check the Free courses section on NALA.ie first for online or distance options you can start without waiting for a local class.
- Use the Tutors and Services sections to see the kinds of help offered — one-to-one tutoring, family literacy, workplace basic education, financial literacy and health literacy all appear there.
- Ring the freephone line and describe your situation: whether you want reading, writing, numeracy, digital skills, or help with forms and official documents. Staff can point you to the nearest provider and tell you whether there is a waiting list.
- Ask about format before committing: group class, one-to-one, online, evening or daytime. One-to-one suits people who feel self-conscious; group classes suit those who want steady weekly structure.
Other places that run or fund courses
| Route | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| NALA free courses and tutor services | Adults who want literacy-specific teaching | Availability depends on local tutors |
| Education and Training Board adult literacy services | Local classes, often free | Term times and waiting lists vary by county |
| Public libraries | Conversation groups, informal reading support, computer help | Not always structured literacy tuition |
| Community and voluntary groups | Small, local, low-pressure settings | Fewer formal qualifications on offer |
Your local Education and Training Board is the main state provider of free adult literacy tuition, and Education and Training Boards Ireland can help you find the right one for your county. Public libraries are another low-commitment entry point — Libraries Ireland shows branch services, many of which host adult learning and digital skills sessions.
A useful first step
Before you call, write down two or three concrete things you want to be able to do — for example, read a bus timetable, fill in a medical form, help a child with homework, or write a short email at work. That turns a vague enquiry into a specific request, and it makes it much easier for a tutor to tell you whether their service fits or to redirect you to one that does. If you would rather not speak on the phone at first, the online free courses are the gentlest way to begin while you wait for a local place.
What plain English editing and training services does NALA offer?
NALA provides plain English editing and training through its Plain English service line, aimed at organisations that need documents, forms or communications rewritten so ordinary readers can understand them on a first reading. The service sits alongside related areas such as literacy awareness, health literacy, family literacy, financial literacy and workplace basic education, so a request can be scoped to the audience that matters most.
What the service covers
- Editing: reviewing and rewriting existing documents into plain English, including forms and public information.
- Training: building staff capability so teams can produce clearer written material themselves.
- Plain English Mark: a recognition or benchmarking route for organisations that want their documents assessed against plain English standards.
- Plain English tips: free guidance for anyone who wants to improve their own writing before commissioning work.
Who it suits
| User | Likely fit |
|---|---|
| Public bodies and health services | Editing forms, letters and patient information; training frontline staff |
| Employers | Workplace documents, policies and internal communications |
| Community and voluntary groups | Grant applications, leaflets and service information on tight budgets |
| Individual writers | Free tips and courses rather than paid consultancy |
The practical trade-off is between commissioning an edit and building in-house skills. An edit gives you a finished document quickly; training costs more time upfront but reduces repeat work. For a first step, read the free tips and compare them with one of your own documents. If several problems recur across your organisation, training or the Plain English Mark is likely to be better value than one-off edits. See NALA.ie.
How do I become a volunteer tutor with NALA?
To become a volunteer tutor with NALA, start by creating an account on NALA.ie and then look for its tutor section, which covers "Getting started as a tutor" and training events. NALA is Ireland's National Adult Literacy Agency, so its tutor pathway is built around helping adults with reading, writing, maths and digital skills.
What the route involves
- Register on the site. The sign-in page lets you create a membership account, which is the practical first step before accessing tutor materials.
- Use the tutor resources. The site lists a resources hub, student workbooks, teaching guidelines and professional development, so you can see what tutoring involves before committing.
- Attend tutor training. "Training events" and "Getting started as a tutor" are the pages that explain preparation and any induction requirements.
- Choose a setting. NALA works across family literacy, workplace basic education, health literacy and further education, so tutoring can happen in different contexts rather than one fixed classroom.
A realistic example
If you have two evenings a month free, you could train as a tutor and support an adult who wants to read letters from school or fill in forms online. The work is usually one-to-one or small-group, patient and practical, not exam drilling.
Decide before you apply
Ask yourself whether you can commit to regular sessions for several months, since adult learners build confidence through consistency. If you prefer structured teaching, the further education and workplace strands may suit you; if you want to help parents and children together, look at family literacy.
Your next step is to create an account on NALA.ie, open the tutor section and read "Getting started as a tutor" before booking a training event. For broader context on adult learning in Ireland, SOLAS and Citizens Information are useful official sources.
What resources does NALA provide for teaching numeracy and literacy?
NALA provides resources for three main groups: adult learners, tutors, and organisations that need clearer communication.
For learners
- Free courses are the starting point, with learning available through NALA's own platform.
- Student workbooks support study alongside a tutor or course.
- Student information covers practical matters such as membership and getting started.
For tutors and teachers
- A resources hub collects teaching materials in one place.
- Teaching guidelines and student workbooks give structure for one-to-one or group tuition.
- Professional development and training events help tutors build their skills.
- Getting started as a tutor is aimed at people new to adult literacy teaching.
- Family literacy and integrating literacy in further education extend this into home and college settings.
For workplaces, health services and public bodies
- Plain English services include tips, editing and training, plus the Plain English Mark for organisations that meet the standard.
- Literacy awareness and health literacy training suit staff who deal with the public; health literacy tips are also published for the public.
- Financial literacy and workplace basic education cover money skills and on-site learning.
- Research and policy work spans access to public services, education and training policy, health literacy, and literacy and employment.
How to choose
If you are an adult returning to learning, start with free courses. If you teach or volunteer, the tutor resources hub and teaching guidelines will be more useful. If you run a service, clinic or company, look at plain English and literacy awareness training first.
A useful next step is to browse the free courses section, then check the tutors section if you want to support someone else's learning. NALA also runs a freephone support line for people who prefer to ask questions by phone. For wider context on adult learning in Ireland, SOLAS publishes further education and training information.
How does NALA support health literacy in the health sector?
NALA supports health literacy in the health sector by offering dedicated services and training aimed at helping health organisations communicate more clearly with patients and the public. Its health literacy work sits alongside its broader plain English, literacy awareness and research services, so the health sector can draw on practical communication support rather than a single standalone resource.
What the health-sector support covers
- Health sector services: NALA lists health literacy services specifically for organisations working in health, suggesting tailored support rather than general public information alone.
- Plain English editing and training: Through its Plain English service, NALA offers editing and training, which health providers can use to make patient letters, forms, leaflets and websites easier to understand.
- Health literacy tips for the public: NALA also publishes health literacy guidance aimed at the public, useful for patients and families trying to navigate health information.
- Literacy awareness: This helps health staff understand how unmet literacy and numeracy needs affect a person's ability to read appointment letters, follow medication instructions or complete forms.
- Research and policy: NALA researches health literacy in Ireland and makes policy submissions, giving health planners evidence to shape services.
How this works in practice
A hospital communications officer might ask NALA to review a discharge letter in plain English so patients can act on it at home. A GP practice could arrange literacy awareness training so reception staff recognise when a patient is struggling with a form and respond without embarrassment. A health charity might use NALA's health literacy tips to rewrite online patient information.
Where to start
If you work in the health sector, begin with the health literacy services section on NALA to see which type of support matches your need: editing an existing document, training staff, or reviewing how your service communicates. If you are an individual looking for clearer health information, the public-facing health literacy tips are the more relevant entry point.
The main trade-off is that NALA's health literacy offer is strongest on communication and awareness; clinical accuracy still rests with the health provider, so plain English editing works best when clinicians and communication specialists review the content together.
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