Book Club
Reading a book was a good way to ease the boredom of lockdown so the group was established.Benefit of reading
Reading has been linked to a wide range of benefits and has been shown to have a positive effect on health and wellbeing, intellectual, personal and social outcomes. Reading for pleasure is associated with a greater sense of community and social inclusion, as well as having positive effects on mental wellbeing. For adults, it can lead to improved confidence and social skills and it improves educational attainment for children. Shared reading groups can improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
Location
Various addresses in Withington and Old Moat
Project team
List project team and partners involved.
SIMPLE BOOKS
Local residents
Buzz Neighbourhood Health Worker
Aim
The aim was to get people connected.
The purpose and background was to ease the loneliness and to get people talking about the books and friendships could be made.
Testimonial:
"Hello Sadie, I was delighted when I received the book Blind Side. I hadn't read any of Paterson's books for over two years. The book was a real page turner! I have been in lockdown since March 23rd. So to be able to read a new novel, especially by Patterson relieved the boredom. Myself and other tenants at Sycamore were pleased to hear about the book scheme that is running and have added their names and choice of book to the list. Many of those tenants have been in lockdown since 23rd March also. As our lounge has been closed since that date we have missed many of the activities you helped to fund. Hope to see you soon."
Evaluation
The project is going very well with many more people who are exchanging and reading more.
It is hope that after lockdown people will meet as a book club group.
Engagement of inclusion, age friendly, staying connected and learning.
Strategic links to local/national policies
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Benefit |
Policy |
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Increased mental wellbeing |
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Social inclusion More engaged in community |
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Reduces health inequalities (as a result of improved literacy) |
Fair Society, Healthy Lives (Institute of Health Equity, 2010) |
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Increased educational attainment |
Research/evidence base
Clark and Rumbold (2006), National Literacy Trust- Reading For Pleasure: A research overview
Department for Education: Education Standards Research Team (2012)- Research evidence on reading for pleasure
Reading Agency (2015)- Literature Review: The impact of reading for pleasure and empowerment
The Reader (2019)- Stronger Foundation for the Future: Growing shared reading with support from the second half fund
The Reader (2017)- What Literature Can Do: An investigation into the effectiveness of Shared Reading as a whole population health intervention
Contact
Sadie Roberts - buzz Neighbourhood Health Worker
T: 07890 533 374
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