National Shared Reading charity The Reader pays tribute to supporters’ generosity in helping to expand reading groups for people living with dementia and their families across the Liverpool City Region.
The Reader’s second Christmas Appeal hit a final total of £9,600 in just five weeks.
The UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity is delighted to have raised 96% of its £10,000 target to expand its work with people living with dementia and their families living in the Liverpool City Region.
Lisa Brown, Development Manager at The Reader who has been running the Christmas Appeal, said:
“We’re so grateful to everyone who donated, fundraised and supported our Christmas Appeal this year.
“Thanks to their generosity we’ll recruit, train and support more volunteer Shared Reading group leaders, expand our reach by working in partnership with other services, and create even more opportunities to help people living with dementia and their families across the Liverpool City Region.”
Donations include £2,044 from the Knit and Natter group which meets every week at The Reader’s home in the restored Grade II listed Mansion House in Calderstones Park, Allerton, South Liverpool.
The group raised the money through selling hand-knitted items throughout the Christmas period, including at The Reader’s Makers at the Mansion on Sunday 1 December.
Volunteer Reader Leader Mary White, who co-ordinates the Knit and Natter group at The Reader, said:
“We are delighted to support The Reader whenever we can because we know what a difference it makes to people’s lives. We count ourselves very fortunate to meet, share our skills and create together every week in such a safe and beautiful space.”
The charity is working to reach people affected by dementia at all stages of progression through a growing network of partnerships with support services and care homes, from early intervention in the community to more advanced onset in acute care wards.
It currently runs weekly Shared Reading groups for people with dementia, their families and carers in places including care homes, libraries, health services and other charity settings where participants talk about how a story or poem makes them feel in a space where everyone’s voice is valued and respected.
Across Liverpool there are groups at Sedgemoor Care Home and Dementia Day Service in Norris Green; an open to all weekly dementia friendly Shared Reading group at Central Library – which has been running since September 2023 and a new group in Knowsley set up in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Society.
Over the last year the charity has been running 55 Shared Reading groups across the North West, London and South West reaching 350 people affected by dementia.
The Reader’s first Christmas appeal in 2023 raised more than £7,000 towards the charity’s First Page project which helps families facing challenge spark a life-long love of reading with their children.
To find out more about The Reader visit their website here.
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