1. Reading Together, Working Together

2. What is shared reading? Reading aloud, together, for pleasure rather than functional literacy Aimed at people who cannot or do not read alone Using reading to bring people together

3. How do we do it? Deliver shared reading groups in partnership with charities, voluntary sector organisations, and health services – formal partnerships Link our groups and group members – informal partnerships Train and support organisations – staff and volunteers – to deliver their own groups Use reading as part of training Create resources to support shared reading

4. Why do it? Improves mental wellbeing Decreases isolation Provides a non-clinical way to share issues Improves access to other services Links sectors Increases self confidence and self esteem – empowers and gives people a voice Involves the people we work with Builds capacity with our partners to provide an additional service – we never work alone Creates a resource that provides maximum impact with minimum costs

5. Challenges… - ‘I don’t know who you’d speak to about that’ - ‘It’s not suitable for our clients’ - ‘Oh no! Volunteers! Getting in our way and making more work for us…’ - ‘We can’t give our staff any more work’ - ‘What will we do when it finishes?’ - ‘Oh dear – we didn’t know you’d need a separate room to work in’

6. Top tips for small organisations working in partnership with the NHS Sell it! Maximum but realistic impact Find the right people and get everyone on board. Check practicalities and responsibilities. It sounds good – how will it actually work? Timing: Allow a lot of time to set things up, then double it. If working within hospitals – triple it Communication throughout Get people participating involved Maximum impact – explore how you can take it to more people (e.g. online) Gather the right evidence of success. Don’t be shy – tell everyone!

7. …and finally Small fishes can work well with big ones! And when it works, it achieves so much more than working alone.