Community
As well as our annual reading initiative we plan and run a year-round programme of outreach work within the local community, in partnership with various local organisations and Brighton & Hove City Libraries.
Read Aloud
What happens at a Read Aloud group?
Read Aloud groups are informal group settings in which participants can, if they choose to, take turns to read aloud from a chosen book. Alternatively some group members choose to just listen and enjoy the story - everyone is welcome! Each of our groups is led by two experienced and trained volunteers who are always pleased to be able to welcome new members.
As well as our library-based groups open to anyone, City Reads has set up Read Aloud groups targeted to help members of our community with specific needs, starting with our Active at 60 project in 2011, when we set up groups aimed at over 60s in Brighton and Hove.
NEW groups open to all
Hove Library – Thursdays 2 - 4pm
Whitehawk Inn – Fridays 10.30am - 12.30pm (NEW)
FREE Just drop in!
Visit the Read Aloud page on the B&H Libraries website for more information
Read to Recovery 2012
2012 saw us launch our Read to Recovery project during which time we set up 6 new Read Aloud groups based within local mental health organisations. These groups have continued to run, led by our volunteers in partnership with trained mental health professionals from each organisation. These included Brighton Housing Trust (First Base, Cornerhouse and Support for Housing), Threshold Women’s Mental health charity and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation.
‘Creative reading, such as Read Aloud groups, has wonderful potential as a cost-effective form of self-help therapy
that can promote the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. There is
evidence that creative reading reduces stress levels and that social reading activity helps people relax, combats
loneliness and offers therapeutic benefits.’’
Jackie Manners (Principal Librarian – Community West Sussex)
