Liverpool charity The Reader calls for a national reading revolution as it reaches 500-group milestone

The Reader, a national charity based in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park, has hit a major milestone this month, supporting 500 Shared Reading groups to take place across the UK every single week.

To build on this momentum, it’s now seeking local volunteers to support its national reading revolution, offering new opportunities to read great literature with elderly people in 14 care homes in Liverpool.

With support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, more than 600 volunteers now read in libraries, prisons, care homes and hospitals up and down thecountry, bringing people together and books to life. Over 200 of those groups take place in the North West, with the help of more than 50 local partners including Age UK, Stroke Association and Waterstones.

Research from the University of Liverpool has shown that these Shared Reading groups can improve wellbeing, reduce social isolation and build stronger, more supportive communities. As one local group member said: “The reading groups are a different kind of medicine and it’s through them that I’ve found a way back to life”.

“There are more than 2 million people in the UK suffering from chronic loneliness, which is known to have a detrimental impact on health and wellbeing,” explains TheReader’s founder and chief executive Jane Davis. “Shared Reading brings people from all walks of life together and helps them to build social connections. We believe a reading revolution is needed now more than ever in our increasingly isolated digital world.

“It’s an incredible achievement to reach this milestone and it belongs to the volunteers on the ground who make them happen,” Davis continues. “Behind every one of those groups is a trained Reader Leader who brings something meaningful into the lives of their group members, whether it’s a poem that provides comfort, a new friendship or just a friendly face and a cup of tea.”

The Reader, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, now reads with over 3,300 people a month in friendly and inclusive adult Shared Reading groups. Watch above as we chat with Kirsty from The Reader earlier this summer, ahead of the huge Big Picnic event in the park.

“There are lots of live opportunities for people to get involved, so if you love people and love books, and could help us bring a weekly Shared Reading group to places like John Lewis in Liverpool ONE or Anfield Stadium – then we want to hear from you,” Davis adds.

By reading with purpose, and sharing thoughts and reflections, many group members find personal meaning in the literature and form strong social connections with others.

Rachel, a volunteer Reader Leader, has been running a Shared Reading group in a care home for three years. She said: “Reading with different people gives you some insight into their lives, reading with older people especially shows you a personal history. These people have lived full, rich lives and Shared Reading shows that person is still very much there.”

Groups are free to attend and open to everyone regardless of age or background, whether they’re hardy readers or just starting out. Weekly sessions are led by a trained Reader Leader who brings something – a short story, poem, play or novel – to be read aloud and discussed by the group.

Founded in Birkenhead, the charity wants to thank volunteers and supporters from across the North West for leading the national Shared Reading movement.

To learn more about volunteering with The Reader, visit www.thereader.org.uk/volunteer for a list of upcoming Volunteer Recruitment Events across the North West. You can find out more about People’s Postcode Lottery and their beneficiaries at www.postcodelottery.co.uk