A snippet of June's Shared Reading Newsletter

Hello everyone and welcome to your June Shared Reading newsletter!

After a busy and brilliant Derby Book Festival summer edition, we've been reflecting on all the different ways stories, poems, books and conversation bring people together.

Sometimes that connection starts with a sentence in a story or a memory shared around a table. Sometimes it starts with deciding to try something new, joining a group for the first time, or having a conversation that might seem ordinary from the outside but matters deeply to the people involved.

This month, we're sharing Peter's story, new Shared Reading session videos, podcast news, and ways you can help more people discover the world of Shared Reading.

Finding confidence and connection through Shared Reading: Peter's story

When Peter moved to Derby in 2024, he didn't know anyone in the city. He was recovering from a stroke, adjusting to retirement and trying to find his feet in a new place. Looking back, he says finding the Shared Reading group at Artcore came at exactly the right time. Peter had seen the group advertised and liked the idea straight away - reading, stories, a central venue less than 10 minutes from his flat, and the possibility of meeting new people with shared interests.

What Peter found at the group was a warm welcome and an opportunity for regular connection and conversation. The group gave him a reason to leave his flat, meet people and have conversations that weren't about medical appointments, treatment or recovery. As Peter puts it:

“It gave me a reason to get up in the morning.”

Shared Reading helped Peter feel part of something. It gave shape to his week, introduced him to new people, and offered a relaxed space where poems and stories opened up into wider conversations about life, with people sharing memories, experiences and ideas. He talks warmly about the many different topics covered, and the way discussions about texts can travel in unexpected and interesting directions. Peter is clear that Shared Reading isn't about literary expertise or academic analysis, it's about people. He describes the group as:

“Exactly the opposite of academic.”

For Peter, that is part of what makes it work so well. Everyone brings something different, with unique perspectives from their own lives, thoughts and experiences. The reading matters, but it's the conversation, listening and shared reflection around it that makes the space feel alive. For Peter, the group was very much about:

“Finding your people... or your tribe, as my brother says.”

The impact of Shared Reading also reached beyond the session itself. Through the group, Peter began writing and sharing his own poetry, built the confidence to read at local open mic events, volunteered at Derby Book Festival, joined a short story writing course, and even started a book club in his block of flats.

That's the ripple effect of Shared Reading. One group, one hour, one welcoming space. From that, someone finds confidence, connection, creativity and a renewed sense of belonging.

Watch a Shared Reading session

We’re pleased to share that videos of two Shared Reading group sessions are now available to watch on our YouTube channel.

They show what a session is really like, how the reading works, how volunteers guide the group, how people respond to the texts, and how conversation naturally grows as the session unfolds.

They also show that Shared Reading is not only about the words on the page. It's about pausing, listening, noticing, remembering, laughing, wondering, and making space for different people to contribute in different ways.

For anyone curious about joining a group, volunteering, referring someone, partnering with us or supporting the programme, the videos offer a real insight into what happens in a session.

Watch the Travel session or Spring session. 

Podcast update: Festival specials coming soon!

Recording at Derby Book Festival was a real joy. Our podcast co-hosts Ellie and Steve loved meeting people, talking to festival visitors, and hearing so many different reflections on how reading brings us together.

We're now busy editing our festival special episodes and will be releasing the first of these very soon.

Keep an eye on your inbox and our social media channels for the first episode!

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