Reading Agency launches £2.1m elderly reading project

The Reading Agency is launching a project to provide reading activities for older people thanks to a £2.1m grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Through the ‘Reading Friends’ project, the Reading Agency will organise reading groups, author visits and book chats for older people, including people with dementia and their carers.

The project will launch in July next year, with support from the Society of Chief Librarians and various charities and social enterprises.

Debbie Hicks, creative director at The Reading Agency, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Big Lottery Fund, key partner organisations and older people to deliver this exciting new reading befriending model that will empower, engage and connect isolated older people across the UK. Reading Friends will deliver a new shared reading model, powered by social activism, to keep isolated older people connected as part of a wider reading community. We can’t wait to get started."

The project will be initially delivered in England, Scotland and Wales. Discussions with partners in Northern Ireland are ongoing.