Reflective reading scheme finds new home in Coventry libraries
It's part of Coventry's tenure of UK City of Culture
A wellbeing scheme using reflective reading therapy to support vulnerable people is to be based in Coventry.
The guided reading programme, called 'Reading Rooms', has been launched as part of Coventry's tenure of the UK City of Culture.
'Reading Rooms' has already helped the lives of those in previous UK Cities of Culture like Hull and Derry-Londonderry in the past ten years.
The aim of the initiative is to support the emotional wellbeing of children and vulnerable people through storytelling.
It comes as the scheme forms part of the One Million Reads Coventry, launched by the Duchess of Cornwall in May last year.
The goal is for one million published poems, story or articles to be read by May 2022 to improve the literacy rate in the region.
As well as supporting the UK City of Culture, 'Reading Rooms' are also being brought to Coventry through the National Lottery Community Fund.
Speaking about the initiative, James Kerr from Verbal, which helped to launch the scheme in Derry ten years ago said it was an honour to reach people in Coventry.
"We are thrilled to have been given this opportunity to partner with Coventry City Council to deliver this programme," he said.
“Verbal believes that every story matters and through this programme model we have created a safe space for participants to use the art of storytelling to build positive mental health and wellbeing, self-reflect and grow using literature as the vehicle to take positive steps forward.”