Reading Rooms to foster older people’s social inclusion and mental health

Reading Rooms session The Verbal Arts Centre, in the UK established in 2013 ‘Reading Rooms’ aimed to improve people’s health and well-being through the literary arts.

During Reading Rooms sessions, a short story or poem is read aloud by facilitators, who are all trained volunteers, or participants who are then encouraged to share ideas, thoughts and feelings. It allows individuals – regardless of ability, background or circumstances – to share experiences from their past, sparking memories, stimulating new thoughts and triggering discussions and exchanges.

The programme’s core objective is to reach out, support and re-engage those who find themselves at margins due to deprivation, discrimination and other circumstances.

Read more in this blog article or on Verbal’s website

Related news

Skip to content