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Rebuilding the Reading Revolution: Shared Reading Groups Open to All

Written by Francesca Dolan, 23rd September 2021

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 

Sutton Coldfield Library 

Thursdays, 2pm 

 

Perry Common Library 

Friday, 2.15pm

 

Balsall Heath Library

Wednesdays, 10.30am

 

Cheshire

Lache Library 

Fridays, 10am

 

Dorset

Christchurch Library

Fridays, 10.30am

 

Devon

Bideford Library

Wednesdays, 10.30am (1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month)

 

Leicestershire 

Coalville Library 

Tuesdays, 1pm 

  

Glenfield Library 

Fridays, 10:15am 

 

Ashby Library 

Mondays, 10.30am

 

East London

Salvation Army Hoxton

Tuesdays, 10.30am

 

North London 

Salvation Army Hendon 

Tuesdays, 2pm  

 

Stephens House and Gardens 

Wednesdays, 2pm 

 

The Flower Station at the Garden Café

Tuesdays, 10.30am (fortnightly)

 

South London

West Norwood Library

Thursdays, 6.30pm

 

Ackroyd Community Centre 

Wednesdays, 2pm

 

West London 

The Clement James Centre 

Wednesdays, 11am 

 

Dalgarno Trust 

Fridays, 11am 

 

St. Peter's Church, Notting Hill

Tuesdays, 12.30pm

 

Merseyside 

Birkdale Community Centre 

Tuesdays, 2pm

 

Bootle Library 

Fridays, 10:30am  

 

Liverpool Irish Centre 

Wednesdays, 6pm

 

Calderstones 

Mondays, 2pm

Wednesdays, 11am

Thursdays, 10am

 

St Nick's Church

Wednesdays, 6pm

 

Kindfullness Café 

Tuesdays, 2pm

 

Waterstones Liverpool One 

Fridays, 3pm

 

Life Rooms Southport 

Mondays, 10am

 

Strawberry Fields

Wednesdays, 2pm

 

Widnes Library

Fridays, 10am-11.30am

 

The Florrie

Thursdays, 1pm - 2.30pm

 

Manchester

Withington Library

Wednesdays, 6pm (fortnightly)

 

Rotherham 

Riverside House Library 

Thursdays, 2pm

 

Sheffield 

Hillsborough Library

Tuesdays, 10.30am

 

Highfield Library

The last Saturday of every month, 2pm

 

Shropshire 

QUBE - Oswestry Community Action 

Mondays, 2.30pm  

 

Skelmersdale

Artz Centre

Tuesdays, 2pm (fortnightly)

 

Somerset 

Bridgwater Library 

Tuesdays, 2pm 

 

Cheddar Library 

Mondays, 2pm  

 

Taunton Library 

Mondays, 11am & 2pm 

 

Wells Library 

Fridays, 2pm  

 

Wincanton Library

Tuesdays, 2.30pm (fortnightly)

 

St. Helens 

Moss Bank Library

Tuesdays, 10.30am (fortnightly)

 

Rainford Library

Mondays, 2pm-3pm (last Monday of each month)

 

Suffolk

Sudbury Library

Wednesdays, 2pm

 

North Wales 

Prestatyn Library

Fridays, 11.30am

 

Wrexham Library 

Tuesdays, 12.30pm

 

Wigan

Atherton Library 

Thursdays, 11.15am

 

Wigan and Leigh Archives 

Thursdays, 2pm

 

Wirral 

Callister Gardens

Tuesdays, 10am

 

Oxton Green Community Store

Wednesdays, 10am

 

St. Mary's Centre

Tuesdays, 10.30am

 

South Yorkshire 

Rawmrash Library

Wednesdays, 9am

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