Older people

Verbal Wellbeing aims to promote positive mental health amongst older people, with a particular emphasis on overcoming loneliness, using bibliotherapy and storytelling as a therapeutic approach.

We embed highly engaging stories with semi-structured, psychology-led discussions to enhance participants’ emotional wellbeing and reduce psychological distress using reflection-based group conversation focusing on overcoming loneliness.

There's also a cuppa of something warm and a chat!

Reading Friends case study - Andy and Sadie

Sadie and Andy take part in the Reading Friends group at Owen Mor Care Centre Read more

Reading Friends case study - Michael

Meet Michael who is a Reading Friend at Owen Mor Care Centre Read more

PRESS RELEASE: Older people reading to reduce loneliness

Reading Friends launches in Northern Ireland Read more

Reading Rooms connects local primary school and care home

A selection of intergenerational Reading Rooms that strengthen community relationships Read more

Poetry surprises on Poetry Day Ireland

Pick up a pocket poem and celebrate poetry Read more

National care home open day

An annual event celebrating care homes at the heart of our communities Read more

Connecting communities seminar in Derry/Londonderry and Belfast

Helping care home residents to connect with places, people, and passions Read more

Bring down the walls

A pilot programme for older people Read more

Reading Rooms programme for older people

How we engage older people in the Reading Rooms experience Read more

How we use literature in Reading Rooms

An insight into how we select the literature we use across our Reading Rooms programme Read more

Latest

Children In Need: Reading Rooms – Partner feedback: The Strand Foyer APEX

Verbal worked in partnership with APEX – The Strand Foyer in 2015, delivering Reading Rooms with young residents. Here is what support worker Michael had to say about the programme.
Children In Need: Reading Rooms – Partner feedback: Kinship Care 2015

Verbal worked in partnership with Kinship Care in 2015, delivering Reading Rooms with young people in care. Here is what Leanne from the Kinship Care Support Service had to say about the programme.
Children in Need: Reading Rooms Case Study with young people

Verbal worked in partnership with local organisations in 2015, delivering Reading Rooms with young people in care. We asked young people what their experience of the programme was.
Verbal’s Collaboration with the Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network (NIPHRN)

Verbal are collaborating with NIPHRN and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to develop a Shared Reading programme to support ambulance control room staff.