A snippet of February's Shared Reading Newsletter

We've had a very busy month, from group milestones to National Storytelling Week, our new podcast episode and so much more, we hope you enjoy this month's highlights!

Shared Reading Groups

This month Sheila and Margaret led a special Shared Reading session celebrating 4 years of the group at Mickleover Library. Sheila has been leading this group since it started, and some of the participants have also been coming along since it started - brilliant!

The group enjoyed re-visiting pieces of writing that have been particularly meaningful to each of them over the past 4 years together, including some wonderful contributions written by participants and volunteers. It was a session filled with laughter and reflection which echoed the range of material they shared.

A huge thank you to our Shared Reading volunteers Sheila, Margaret and Steven for their dedication to this group. It is valued and enjoyed by the participants through the ups and downs of life.

National Storytelling Week

Did you hear us featured on Derby ONE over National Storytelling Week? 

The new local radio station Derby ONE featured Shared Reading across their programmes during National Storytelling Week as we shared the importance of our Shared Reading groups, volunteers read snippets of writing that was meaningful to them, and Derby Book Festival shared news on the Flash Fiction Writing Competition, World Book Day and the Children's Picture Book Award.

You can listen to our brilliant volunteer and Podcast co-host, Ellie, talk about all things Shared Reading on their website.

Shared Reading Podcast

It's live! Our latest episode of 'The Shared Reading podcast by Derby Book Festival' is officially out on Podbean, Spotify and other listening services.

Our second episode focuses on the theme ‘colour’, and we're joined by two lovely guests: local poet Cullen Marshall who wrote two incredible poems especially for the podcast, and a Shared Readingparticipant, Peter Little!

A huge thank you goes to our brilliant podcast co-hosts, Steve and Ellie who make this podcast come to life, and help to highlight the incredible impact our Shared Reading groups have and the way a single word can affect us and elicit an entire conversation.

A big thank you also to Dubrek Studios, for hosting our podcast.

Listen now.

Online Group

Our new online Shared Reading group has started and we have had some lovely uplifting Zoom sessions.

We've already covered a diverse range of themes including Food, the Weather, and the Winter Olympics! Exploring a wide range of materials from YouTube clips featuring song lyrics, spoken word poets on Instagram, quotes from films and cultural icons, along with some more traditional extracts from stories, letters, and poems.

Led by our wonderful team of volunteers these have been become a highlight every fortnight. Our next online session is on Wednesday 4th March, at 7pm, you can register to join us here.

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