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-
93%
Felt better after a session
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700
Groups around the UK
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10,000+
Readers a year
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84%
Made new friends
What's Happening
Tiny Acorns
6 week Indoor Sessions, starting January 2022 £49.00£49 for 6 weeks - booking includes a copy of our featured baby board book to keep and share again and...
Board Games
First Sunday of the month, 3pm - 5pm FreeCome along to our monthly afternoon of board and card games to meet new people, discover exciting new games and...
Our Home: A tour of the Mansion House
Every Tuesday, 2pm FreeThe Mansion House is not only a beautiful grade II listed building, but it is also the home of The...
Trails and Tales
All day, every day FreeThe Trails & Tales experience is a way for visitors of all ages to connect with their surroundings as they...
Imagine Calderstones: A Walk Through Time
Third Wednesday of the month, 11am FreeFree, book a ticket online (limited number of tickets available in person on the day) Take steps through the ages, and find...
Relaxed Reading for Parents and Carers
Every Wednesday, 10am - 11.30am FreeSessions run weekly on Wednesdays, 10am – 11.30am A free Shared Reading group for parents and carers who’d like to...
Welly Walks
Saturdays throughout the year, various times £4.00Combining the whimsy of our Storybarn with the exciting heritage of Calderstones Park, we invite you to join us for Storybarn Welly Walks Each...
Collage Art Journalling
Monday evenings, 6pm - 8pm starting 31 January £160.00Creating a visual diary combining elements of collage, writing, drawing, ’zen’ doodling as a means of personal self expression. Design...
Landscape Painting
Sundays 11am-5pm , 13, 20, 27 February 2022 £125.00This course will provide an opportunity to explore landscape in paint. Through a series of quick experimental pieces and more...
Spoken Word – February
Thursday 17 February, 7pm £10.00Our Spoken Word event for February will feature Liverpool based band, Sunstack Jones, alongside a selection of supporting poets. Spoken Word...
Illustrating Inspiring Quotes
Saturdays 5 - 19 March, 11am - 4pm £125.00Develop observational and expressive drawing techniques and skills, using nature and organic patterns as inspiration. This course will enable you...
Books and Brambles
6 Week Outdoor Adventure, starting on Saturday 5 or Sunday 6 March £49.001 child £49, 2 siblings £80, 3 siblings £120 Books and Brambles is a six-week outdoor adventure of exciting weekends...
Cyanotype
Saturday 26 March, 2022 £50.00This course introduces participants to the use of a traditional Victorian photographic technique as a way of creating unique images....
Introduction to Chinese Painting
Sunday 3 April, 11am - 5pm £50.00Explore the history of Chinese Painting techniques with artist Madeleine Pires. This Chinese brush painting session is a mixed ability...
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.
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.
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!
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8,937
Storyhunter and Incy Wincy Rhymer attendees
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95
Birthday parties
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111
School visits
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23
Family fun days
Something More
National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will help tell the undiscovered stories of Calderstones
The Reader has received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for ‘Making Meaning at Calderstones’ – a two-year project that will help uncover and tell the stories of Calderstones as…
Life Letters: a new project that brings the joy of literature to care home residents
Could you be a volunteer for a new project that brings the joy of literature to care home residents? We're…
Vote for The Reader in the LCR Culture & Creativity Awards
We're delighted to be finalists in the Liverpool City Region Culture & Creativity Awards! The Reader has made the final…
