Can you support Shared Reading over the winter?

Derby Book Festival's Shared Reading project has been a vital part of our community programme since 2019. We've been running successful reading sessions across Derby in care homes, libraries, hospitals, community cafes and even online for housebound people. Volunteers run these sessions – they are the heart and soul of the Shared Reading project.

We need your help

We desperately need more volunteers to help run our Shared Reading sessions across Derby, and we are asking you to help us.

Can you, or someone you know, spare two hours a fortnight until the end of March to help run Shared Reading sessions across our City? You don’t need any qualifications, just a love of lots of different kinds of literature and a willingness to improve the lives of others.

You’ll be trained by the Festival Team and supported with lots of great literature. You can choose to run the sessions in-person or online.

We're looking for people who can start immediately.

It’s a great way to give back to Derby, meet new friends and enjoy new exciting literature.

What is Shared Reading?

People meet up, read, listen and chat about great stories, poems, comedy sketches and song lyrics. Reading together has a unique power to connect us and is a proven way to help tackle loneliness and isolation in communities. Our Shared Reading sessions are free and open to all adults from all kinds of diverse and wonderful backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to join in. Find out more about Shared Reading by visiting https://www.derbybookfestival....

What our current volunteers say about Shared Reading:

“Being a volunteer is so fulfilling – exploring new literature and making new friends along the way.” Volunteer E.

“I know that by running the sessions I have helped others improve their wellbeing. It’s certainly helped me with mine.” Volunteer M.

Next steps:

Pop us an email today and help support Derby’s Shared Reading programme this winter: shared.reading@derbybookfestival.co.uk