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Shared Reading UK

Our Shared Reading groups bring people together in prisons, hospitals, care homes, libraries and other community spaces across the UK, thanks to the commitment of volunteers, partners and funders. 

We have large Shared Reading communities in the North West, South East and South West, and are supporting emerging movements in North Wales, South Yorkshire and Northern Ireland – but we can bring Shared Reading wherever it’s needed. Are we in your local area yet?

Shared Reading group

International Shared Reading

In 2008, we launched our ground-breaking Read to Lead training programme to give people in the UK and around the world the power to start building their own Reading Revolution.

This Shared Reading movement can now be found in countries including Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States.

The Reader at Calderstones is home to the International Centre for Shared Reading – a centre of excellence offering new courses, training and reading experiences.

To find out more, complete the form at the bottom of the page.

Read to Lead Training Programme

Read to Lead has been successfully delivered across the world since 2008. You will learn about the power of Shared Reading and come out of the course fully equipped with all of the necessary skills, knowledge and resources that you need to be able to successfully deliver your own Shared Reading groups with confidence and impact. A powerful tool for personal reflection as well as improving wellbeing, Read to Lead will not only enrich your own experience and practice of what it means to be a reader in the fullest sense of the word but will also provide you with innovative, transferable leadership and facilitation skills.

Read to Lead begins with a series of invigorating and thought-provoking learning modules, delivered digitally over six-half days and offered all year round. During the training, participants will:

  • Experience the joy of Shared Reading first-hand, developing understanding of how it can bring about positive changes in people’s lives.
  • Learn about the unique approach which underpins Shared Reading through supported practice and bespoke one-to-one feedback from experienced practitioners.
  • Develop the facilitation and communication skills essential for Shared Reading delivery.
  • Develop confidence in choosing literature for maximum impact.

After completing Read to Lead training, participants will be part of The Reader’s community and ready to start their own groups whilst continuing to learn from fellow Reader Leaders via The Reader’s on going membership programme.

Investment

The per candidate cost for training as Reader Leader on our online Read to Lead course offer is £1,070 payable at the time of signing our Service Level Agreement. This offer includes:

  • Access to The Reader’s Online Community Hub (platform for reading resources) for 1 year
  • Access to 5 essentials course for 1 year
  • Access to advice and support through our annual calendar of learning workshops
  • Invite to quarterly international stakeholders meetings
  • Bespoke half day online refresher

There is also an additional cost for ongoing membership, beyond the first year and options can be discussed at point of renewal. The partner will be responsible for copyright in their country. For more details, please see The Reader’s copyright policy document.

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