Home - The Reader

Join the Reading Revolution

We’re a national charity that wants to bring about a Reading Revolution so that everyone can experience and enjoy great literature, which we believe is a tool for helping humans survive and live well.

From our global Shared Reading movement, to our Calderstones Park home – The Reader builds lively communities that bring people together and books to life.

Find a group near you

94%
Felt better after a session
526
Groups around the UK
10,000+
Readers a year
84%
Made new friends

What's Happening

Please note that all groups and activities at the Mansion House are currently paused, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Join in online, with Daily Readings, Yoga and Storybarn activity right here.

Literature

Daily Reading

Follow @thereaderorg for readings via video Free

Whilst we've closed the Mansion House to keep our staff and visitors safe, we're taking the Daily Reading online! Usually...

Yoga

The Friday Flow

Every Friday, 5pm - 6pm, online £5.00

The mind of man is framed even like the breath And harmony of music. There is a dark Invisible workmanship that...

Family and Children

Storybarn Live!

Every Friday, 11.30am via Facebook Live Free

The Storybarn may be closed, but we're using this time to recreate that whimsical experience online! As ever, we'll be...

See all events

Become a volunteer

Love reading? Love meeting new people? Want to make a difference locally? If so, Shared Reading could be the thing for you. And you could be just the person for us.

1
Tell us you'd like to get involved and apply online.
2
Join The Reader's transformative training programme.
3
Make a difference – and have a great time too.

Find out more

The Reader at Calderstones

The Reader at Calderstones is a community unlike any other, somewhere people can get together, experience literature and try something new.

Drop in at the Mansion House to get a bite to eat at The Reader Café, join a Shared Reading group or explore 5,000 years of storytelling in our dedicated exhibition.

Explore the park, where you’ll find the Storybarn play space and The Reader Ice Cream Parlour.

The Mansion House

The Mansion House is a reading home with heart – drop in to discover a place filled with possibilities.

The Calderstones Story

Discover stories of life in Liverpool, starting 5,000 years ago, in our dedicated exhibition.

The Storybarn

Our imaginative play space for children and families will spark a lifelong love of reading for pleasure. Join us on...

Visit calderstones

The Storybarn

The Storybarn exists to spark a life-long love of books and reading, and an unending curiosity for exploring the astonishing worlds of our imagination.

Whether you’re coming as family, party or school, this imaginative play space is dedicated to sharing the delights of reading with babies and children.

Come and play!