As we hit 60% of our £10,0000 target in the third week of our Christmas Appeal, we speak to Joan. Joan runs a dementia friendly Shared Reading group at Liverpool Central Library. Here, participants connect, sharing how stories and poems makes them feel in a safe space.
A Liverpool charity volunteer who runs a dementia friendly reading group at Central Library says it is “vital” to provide “inclusive, understanding, welcoming services” for people living with dementia and their carers.
Liverpool-based The Reader – the UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity - has so far seen just over £6,000 of donations made towards its £10,000 Christmas Appeal to expand its work with people with dementia and their families across the Liverpool City Region.
It has been running 55 dementia focused groups across the North West, London and South West in the last year reaching 350 people in settings including care homes, libraries and health services, where participants connect and talk about how a piece of literature makes them feel in a safe, relaxed space.
Joan Brown, The Reader’s dementia friendly Shared Reading group leader at Liverpool Central Library, has seen its impact first-hand: “I have been involved in Shared Reading as a trained Reader Leader for almost two years and I absolutely love it! I started my first group in an Assisted Living facility in January 2023 and the group in Liverpool Central Library was launched in September last year.
“Having been a passionate reader all of my life and having volunteered as a trained Dementia Friends Champion for several years, starting the Liverpool Central Library group aimed at people living with dementia and their family carers was just perfect for me.
“The Liverpool Central Library group is open to anyone, however, it is truly dementia friendly, and I know from my previous experience how vital it is to provide inclusive, understanding, welcoming services for people living with dementia and their carers.
“It has been hugely rewarding, not only to welcome those affected by dementia to the group, but also to see how other group members have responded with genuine warmth, understanding and patience.
“I feel really strongly that groups such as ours are vital in supporting people living with dementia to live well with the condition, to continue to be valued members of society and to feel part of something so supportive, rewarding and, most of all enjoyable. There’s always a great deal of laughter in our group, whatever we’ve been reading, and I really believe that laughter helps us all.
“The Reader’s Christmas Appeal aims to support and develop more Shared Reading groups for people living with dementia and their family carers: we’re hoping to raise £10,000 to enable this vital work to continue and flourish so please give generously!”
Members of the group include 86-year-old great-grandmother Barbara Daley, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last Christmas, and her daughter Angela Delea from Mossley Hill.
Joan said: “It’s a real joy having Barbara and Angela in the group and, despite Barbara experiencing problems with her short-term memory, she plays an active role in Shared Reading. She always reads aloud, takes part in all discussions, shares lovely, personal stories and reminiscences and has a great sense of humour. We all think the world of them both, and Barbara is a perfect example of how, with support and understanding you really can live well with dementia.”
Another regular member is Delia Cartlidge, aged 76, from Crosby, who originally joined the group with her husband of 52 years, Stuart, also 76.
Joan said: “We were all really fond of Stuart and were profoundly sad to see his condition deteriorate. The group, however, has given Delia so much support, which I know has helped her through these painful and difficult times.
“We’re all so glad that she still comes along every week and it’s obvious that Delia really benefits from her involvement in Shared Reading. Delia is a really lovely, popular and valued member of our group, and as well as receiving support she is also hugely kind and caring to others.”
The charity is currently 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.
Lisa Brown, Development Manager at The Reader, who is leading the fundraising campaign, said: “We are delighted to have raised 60% of our target and are incredibly grateful to people for showing their support.
“A £10 donation could support our recruitment costs for new volunteers; while £40 could pay for four volunteers to travel to their groups for a month.”
In Britain there are currently 982,000 people diagnosed with dementia, according to the latest statistics from The Alzheimer's Society – and this figure is set to increase to 1.4 million by 2040. Symptoms range from memory loss to confusion, and problems with language or understanding.
Find out more about The Reader’s Christmas Appeal 2024 and how to make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia here.
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