To better represent the services it provides, Read Saskatoon has changed its name to Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan.

Executive Director Sheryl Harrow-Yurach says the former name didn’t properly portray the array of services that are provided, as the volunteers at Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan teach much more than reading skills.

“It’s also about having strong emotional skills and social skills, and gross motor and fine motor skills. All of those things build confidence in a child when they’re really young, so when they start Kindergarten, they are really confident.”

She added that the former name was also misleading for some, another reason for the recent change.

“In our family literacy program, sometimes parents came thinking we would we teaching their children how to read when their children would be two or three years old when we know that is not developmentally possible,” she stated.

Instead, the organization provides free coaching for children and adults struggling in the reading, writing, social skills, fine motor skills, and financial literacy departments.

People in debt, with a low credit score, or who have burned bridges with a financial institution can talk to someone about how to regain financial control.

Harrow-Yurach says last year, the organization worked with around 3100 people The targeted client base generally includes children, those who didn’t graduate high school, newcomers learning English, and people transitioning to a job with different requirements.

She adds that all of their services are free, as she believes that literacy of all kinds is a very important skillset to possess, especially in a world of advancing technology.

Harrow-Yurach says in order to keep the programs free, donations are welcomed and are currently being matched or tripled by a family foundation depending on their value.