Rebuilding the Reading Revolution: Shared Reading Groups Open to All
In-person Shared Reading is returning around the UK as volunteers and group members begin meeting again in local libraries and other community venues.
So far this month, over 40 groups have got back to reading together in-person, with more looking to re-start over coming weeks.
Many of the weekly groups meeting face-to-face are already full but the list of groups open to new members is continuing to grow all the time (see below for details).
Zoe Gilling, The Reader’s Director of Shared Reading Programmes, says: “It’s such a joy to hear that groups are meeting up in person once again to read together.
“Throughout the pandemic, many of our groups found new ways to keep connected - reading online or over the phone. While some told us they’d like to continue their Shared Reading from the comfort of their own homes, there are others in our community who were just as keen to get back to reading live and aloud in the same room.
“Shared Reading groups are always free and open to all. It’s thanks to the generous support of our dedicated volunteers and partners, along with our funders Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the Steve Morgan Foundation that The Reader is now able to make Shared Reading available in more ways so that it can reach the communities who need it most.”
For details of online Shared Reading groups that are currently welcoming new members, please visit our Reading Room website here.
For details of open groups meeting in-person, with capacity for new members, see the list below.
If you can’t see a group in your local area or if you have questions about any of the groups below, please email support@thereader.org.uk or call 0151 729 2250 and our team will be happy to help.
In-person Shared Reading Groups
Birmingham
Thursdays, 2pm
Friday, 2.15pm
Wednesdays, 10.30am
Cheshire
Fridays, 10am
Dorset
Fridays, 10.30am
Devon
Wednesdays, 10.30am (1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month)
Leicestershire
Tuesdays, 1pm
Fridays, 10:15am
Mondays, 10.30am
East London
Tuesdays, 10.30am
North London
Tuesdays, 2pm
Wednesdays, 2pm
The Flower Station at the Garden Café
Tuesdays, 10.30am (fortnightly)
South London
Thursdays, 6.30pm
Wednesdays, 2pm
West London
Wednesdays, 11am
Fridays, 11am
St. Peter's Church, Notting Hill
Tuesdays, 12.30pm
Merseyside
Tuesdays, 2pm
Fridays, 10:30am
Wednesdays, 6pm
Mondays, 2pm
Wednesdays, 11am
Thursdays, 10am
Wednesdays, 6pm
Tuesdays, 2pm
Fridays, 3pm
Mondays, 10am
Wednesdays, 2pm
Fridays, 10am-11.30am
Thursdays, 1pm - 2.30pm
Manchester
Wednesdays, 6pm (fortnightly)
Rotherham
Thursdays, 2pm
Sheffield
Tuesdays, 10.30am
The last Saturday of every month, 2pm
Shropshire
QUBE - Oswestry Community Action
Mondays, 2.30pm
Skelmersdale
Tuesdays, 2pm (fortnightly)
Somerset
Tuesdays, 2pm
Mondays, 2pm
Mondays, 11am & 2pm
Fridays, 2pm
Tuesdays, 2.30pm (fortnightly)
St. Helens
Tuesdays, 10.30am (fortnightly)
Mondays, 2pm-3pm (last Monday of each month)
Suffolk
Wednesdays, 2pm
North Wales
Prestatyn Library
Fridays, 11.30am
Tuesdays, 12.30pm
Wigan
Thursdays, 11.15am
Thursdays, 2pm
Wirral
Tuesdays, 10am
Wednesdays, 10am
Tuesdays, 10.30am
South Yorkshire
Wednesdays, 9am
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