Daphne lives in a sheltered accommodation and before lockdown used to attend the Shared Reading group that meets in the Methodist Church in West Kirby, Wirral. During lockdown, she became very isolated and for nearly two years, the only people she spoke with were her two daughters and the Reader Leaders from the group who took it in turns to phone her and several other group members every week to read a poem or a short story over the phone.  Here is Daphne’s story.    "Oh wow, this is just what I need" Before lockdown, I was very ill and confined to barracks, and then lockdown ..read more

We're hosting a Recruitment Day at the Mansion House, Calderstones Park on Tuesday 16 April as we look to expand our fantastic social enterprise team. As we approach the summer, we have a number of Catering opportunities. "I love working with the amazing team and I also really care about the values of The Reader as a charity- they make this role in catering feel unlike any other!" Emily, Catering Assistant.   Just turn up between 4pm-7pm and one of our friendly team will give you a tour of the café, ice cream parlour, kitchens and events space. Bring your CV if possible or be ready ..read more

Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love of reading and to help improve the children’s confidence and well being.  We read with children in foster care, in kinship care with extended family and those who are being supported by Early Help teams who are aiming to keep families together. With the number of care experienced children in the UK growing and the research telling us that they are more at risk of social, emotional and mental health problems, Reading Heroes is a more important project than ever ..read more

Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love of reading and to help improve the children’s confidence and well being.  We read with children in foster care, in kinship care with extended family and those who are being supported by Early Help teams who are aiming to keep families together. With the number of care experienced children in the UK growing and the research telling us that they are more at risk of social, emotional and mental health problems, Reading Heroes is a more important project than ever. Alys ..read more

Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love of reading and to help improve the children’s confidence and well being.  We read with children in foster care, in kinship care with extended family and those who are being supported by Early Help teams who are aiming to keep families together. With the number of care experienced children in the UK growing and the research telling us that they are more at risk of social, emotional and mental health problems, Reading Heroes is a more important project than ever. Abby ..read more

Reading Heroes matches volunteers to read with care experienced children and young people in order to spark a life long love of reading and to help improve the children’s confidence and well being.  We read with children in foster care, in kinship care with extended family and those who are being supported by Early Help teams who are aiming to keep families together. In 2023, National Literacy Trust recorded the lowest level of reading enjoyment since they started asking children about it in 2005. We know that young people in care are more at risk of social, emotional and mental health pr ..read more

“Thank you for helping me read better and for making reading fun and not stupid boring.” Reading Hero, aged 6. We’re really excited to be expanding our Reading Heroes project and now the hunt is on for more fantastic volunteers to read with children. Could you, or someone you know, spare an hour a week to read with a care experienced child? A child or young person is 'care experienced' if they are living, or have lived, in care at any stage in their life. This includes children who have experienced, or are currently, living in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or at home with ..read more

Our last deep dive into the 2023/24 Children and Young People's Reader Bookshelf is a review of Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick from Head of CYP, Kara. “How do people remember who they are and where they’re from? And how do they know what it means to be human, what makes us more than animals? How do they pass these things on to their children? Stories, that’s how.” As a reader of Floodland, the story we’re following is Zoe’s.  We find her alone, separated from her parents in a chaotic escape attempt and trying to survive in what remains of the city of Norwich, but this is not a No ..read more

Our Featured Poem for February is 'Lines' by Thomas Hood, selected and read by Frances. Lines by Thomas Hood Let us make a leap, my dear, In our love, of many a year, And date it very far away, On a bright clear summer day, When the heart was like a sun To itself, and falsehood none; And the rosy lips a part Of the very loving heart, And the shining of the eye But a sign to know it by; - When my faults were all forgiven, And my life deserved of Heaven. Dearest, let us reckon so, And love for all that long&nbs ..read more

Jeff Gardner is Executive Chef at The Reader and creates the delicious menus for the Cafe, Garden Parties and private events from conferences, to celebrations of life and weddings. Here we shine the spotlight on him to find out a little more about his love of food and what's coming up to look forward to for foodies. Hi Jeff! Tell us a bit about your career history. I started my career at Colquitt Street College, completing NVQ Level 1&2 and a diploma in professional cookery, which helped me on my way to my first job at the Crowne Plaza hotel Liverpool city centre. In three years I reache ..read more