The Basic Skills Agency (formerly the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit--ALBSU) is the national development agency for literacy, numeracy and related basic skills in England and Wales. This agency defines basic skills as " the ability to read, write, and speak in English and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general." There is a serious basic skills problem in the U.K. Many children struggle with skills most people take for granted while too many adults have little mastery of those essential skills. It's an enormous drawback for them and a tremendous disadvantage for society. Family literacy programmes can prevent failure as well as help adults--notably parents--improve their basic skills. Family literacy programs offer what the Americans describe as 'double duty dollars' because they target both parents and their children. Research by National Federation of Educational Research (NFER) summarised in this leaflet provides objective evidence that family literacy programmes can prevent failure. Four pilot programmes which offered combined courses for parents' poor basic skills and their young children are described. Documentation of very encouraging results and detailed information on: (1) the programmes and their operation; (2) factors in their success; and (3) lessons and recommendations are provided.