I recently attended a five day residential training course in the beautiful setting of Burton Manor. The ‘Read to Lead’ training course facilitated by Get Into Reading was an extremely valuable and enjoyable experience. The course was packed with relevant and focused activities.

Each day was carefully planned and executed to ensure that every precious moment was fully utilised. I have never in my 18 years of teaching attended a course which I felt was so purposefully planned and managed. Each activity was relevant, meaningful and interesting.

Despite the intensity and punchy pace of the course, I felt that we had so many opportunities as a group to get to know each other and share our experiences. I worked closely with a real variety of people from a range of professional backgrounds. I learnt a great deal from the other participants on the course and felt that I had been given the unique opportunity to draw on other people’s knowledge and experiences. As a group we very quickly developed a firm bond with everyone working together to help each other.

This course enabled me to develop both my practical skills and my confidence to lead my own reading group. The facilitators were always encouraging and offered advice and praise throughout, helping each of us to grow in confidence.

The week’s training left me buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement about starting my own reading group here at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre.

On a personal level the experience reawakened my own love of literature and for this I am extremely grateful.

I would thoroughly recommend the Get into Reading training course not only from a professional point of view but also because I felt strongly that it provided me with invaluable opportunities to explore my own feelings and thoughts. It was truly a remarkable journey of discovery on so many levels. Many thanks to Casi and Amanda and all the other members of Get into Reading for making the week so memorable!

Geraldine Keenan Teacher
Hydebank Wood Young Offenders and Prison in Belfast