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Doug: ‘In the group…we’re not just talking to the participant as a refugee, we’re talking to them as a person.’
Douglas is Learning Project Manager at Borderlands, a charity working with refugees and asylum seekers in the Bristol area. An…
Rise in free ESOL Shared Reading groups at The Reader
Tough new government language requirements for migrants seeking permanent residency in the UK come into effect from January 2026. A sharp rise…
Meet Shauna, a member of The Reader’s Café team
Shauna, initially came to work at The Reader through WorkFit, the Down's Syndrome Association's employment programme. This tailored service is dedicated to training employers about the learning…
Meet Front of House And Café Team Leader, Zainab
College student and Front of House Team Leader Zainab, 22, has been an employee at The Reader Cafe for four…
‘When Katie reads a poem I look up the Persian meaning and learn new English words, which makes me very happy’
The Reader works closely in collaboration with Our Liverpool’s ‘stop-gap’ education classes for children of sanctuary seeking families. The charity runs an ESOL Shared Reading group for parents and adult guardians whose first language is not…
Suvi: ‘We’ve had really deep conversations about what it entails to leave your home and then grow new roots in a new land’
Suvi Dogra has been involved with The Reader for the past decade as a volunteer, group member or staff member.…
Nataliia: ‘The Skelmersdale Shared Reading group has become like family to me’
Former recruitment manager Nataliia, relocated to the UK from war-torn Ukraine in January 2023. Her home city of Polohy in…
Jane: ‘Shared Reading with asylum seekers is a weekly reminder of our lucky chance of being born in a safe country’
Retired teacher Jane has been leading a highly successful ESOL Shared Reading group for speakers of other languages in Skelmersdale,…
Kelly: ‘I have learnt so much about British culture from what we read’
The mum-of-two who moved from China to Liverpool 15 years ago joined a Shared Reading group in Halewood Library in…
Meet Reading Heroes Volunteer, Colin ‘Reading Heroes opened up the world of graphic novels…the kids and I would spend time joyfully hamming up our performances’
The UK’s largest Shared Reading charity is celebrating its amazing team of volunteers throughout June inspired by Volunteers’ Week 2025, Monday…
Meet Reader Leader, Heather: ‘It sets me up to get going and enthusiastic for the week!’
The UK’s largest Shared Reading charity is celebrating its amazing team of volunteers throughout June inspired by Volunteers’ Week 2025, Monday…
Meet Reading Heroes volunteer Fiona: ‘It’s been a lovely experience to read with him every week – an absolute joy! He’s just brilliant’
Fiona Hall works at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot and volunteers with national Liverpool-based charity The Reader, as part of…
