All Posts

Meet the Volunteer: Raks
Name: Raks Patel Location: Streatham, London Role: Volunteer for Reading Heroes, a project promoting the benefits of reading for pleasure…

Kerstin, North Germany: ‘In all these groups I’ve the privilege to continuously learn’
An experienced Reader Leader, Kerstin now runs several Shared Reading Bremen groups since training in Berlin with The Reader in…

Kate, New Zealand: ‘Shared Reading is a way to unlock the ‘culture of silence’’
The former librarian discovered the work of The Reader while studying for a Masters at NZ’s Victoria University. She founded…

Diane: ‘I love the human side of [Shared Reading], the contact with others’
The Somerset resident, who has cerebral palsy, joined a Shared Reading group in Bridgewater Library after giving up work in…

‘I thought, that’s it, we can make it through this.’ Daphne’s Reader Story
Daphne lives in a sheltered accommodation and before lockdown used to attend the Shared Reading group that meets in the…

Daniel’s Reading Heroes Volunteer Story – “I don’t think she’s had anyone reading aloud to her in the way that I do it.”
Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love…

Alys’ Reading Heroes Volunteer Story – “It took her out of herself.”
Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long…

Abby’s Reading Heroes Volunteer Story – “She’s absolutely blossomed… that’s down to being in a secure environment.”
Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long…

Becca’s Reading Heroes Volunteer Story – “I just go in and say, ‘I’m your reading friend.’”
Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love…

“It’s been a huge part of my recovery.” – A Reader Story from Damien John Kelly House
In September 2021, a group of men from Damien John Kelly House – an abstinence-based recovery living centre for adult…

“It’s completely accessible to everybody” – Reader Stories from Bradbury Fields
Bradbury Fields is a charity in Liverpool which works with blind and partially sighted people, and The Reader deliver a…

Keith’s Reader Story – “The readings invigorated me”
Keith, a 60 year old patient at Warrington Hospital, found his life turned on its head after suffering a stroke…