Tackling loneliness and supporting mental health through the proven power of reading

21 May 2021 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Northumberland Libraries have been proud to take part in The Reading Agency’s Read, Talk, Share campaign this spring. Read, Talk, Share is a government initiative set up to help to combat loneliness and promote wellbeing through the proven power of reading during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Enabled by a £3.5 million award by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Read, Talk, Share has expanded The Reading Agency’s already successful Reading Well and Reading Friends programmes, with the charity’s work to tackle loneliness and support mental health and wellbeing identified by the Government as a key aspect of the nation’s Covid recovery. The two initiatives demonstrate the power of reading to support and connect isolated individuals, and the benefits of bibliotherapy to mental health. 

Northumberland libraries have delivered two strands of Reading Friends Initiatives: Mum’s the Word Reading Friends Groups met weekly on Zoom to reach out to expectant and new mothers who were experiencing isolation and loneliness and Reading Friends Telephone Befrienders built on our existing Befrienders programme to match participants with a friendly member of library staff for a weekly chat about books, life and everything in between. 

Both initiatives were very well received in our communities:  

"Reading Friends has really helped me rediscover my love of books and the group calls have been lovely to connect with other readers and discuss books - and life in general. It is an invaluable service and I feel so lucky to have had it recommended to me.  Thank you for running this service it’s been a lifeline in these weird times." 

Northumberland Libraries has also enjoyed a significant boost to our digital and physical library collections as The Reading Agency has also moved forward with gifting every library in England with Reading Well book collections. In addition the titles are available on our BorrowBox digital library in eBook and eAudio format to ensure getting hold of the collections  is as inclusive and accessible as possible. 

As lockdown has eased and libraries are reopening we are looking to recruit Reading Friends volunteers to become Telephone friends and to lead Reading Friends Groups which will meet in libraries when it is safe to do so. Get in touch with us at readingfriends@northumberland.gov.uk