A NEW reading group that celebrates the joy of reading aloud has launched at Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub.
Overseen by LiveWire’s Libraries team, ‘Read to Relax’ is a new kind of weekly reading group that brings people together in a relaxed and social atmosphere to read, have a cup of tea and chat.
The main difference between this and other reading groups is that at Read to Relax you are read aloud to, so it is your choice whether you want to read aloud or just sit back and listen.
The groups meet weekly, rather than monthly which quickly builds a feeling of friendship between group members. The reading fosters debate and discussion and as groups read not just novels but also short stories and poems, it doesn’t matter if you cannot attend every week.
There is no requirement for everyone attending to read aloud and is a great way to meet like-minded people from the local community who enjoy reading and discussing books.
Matthew Entwistle, Community Librarian for LiveWire, said: “Reading aloud – and being read to – involves people more with the stories they are reading, it takes it off the page and encourages discussion. It also increases accessibility for those with low or no reading skills.
“Read to Relax members have reported finding a new interest in reading, feeling more confident and generally having a better sense of wellbeing. The groups have also inspired some members to write themselves and others to read aloud for the first time ever.”
The new Great Sankey Read to Relax group follows others already running in LiveWire’s libraries. These include:
- Orford Park Library. Tuesday 10.30am to 11.30am
- Penketh Library. Tuesday 2.00pm to 3.00pm
- Lymm Library. Friday 10.30am to 11.30am
Research shows that reading for just six minutes reduces stress by two-thirds. Reading also reduces the risk of dementia by 35%. Reading groups are also a way of reducing loneliness and isolation.
For more information on LiveWire’s libraries, visit https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/library.
