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  • Reading Rooms
  1. About us
  2. Programmes

Reading Rooms

Reading Rooms is a low threshold, high quality outreach programme of reading-based activity. It celebrates literature and fosters rich and sustainable levels of community engagement.

Reading aloud

The Reading Rooms model involves groups of people meeting weekly in a community location. Sessions are structured and short stories and poetry are selected in advance to meet the needs of the group. The literature is read aloud by a trained, accredited volunteer facilitator.

Reflection and exploration

At regular, pre-designed, and tested discussion breaks in the reading, the group is encouraged to reflect on what is being read. Groups explore how the literature might relate to their own lives and circumstances. 

A safe space

Reading Rooms provides a safe, inclusive, and supportive creative environment for those most in need or most vulnerable.

Reading Rooms has created a network of nurturing and accessible spaces across Northern Ireland and in the North of England.

It can support people who, for a range of reasons, have become disengaged and help them to rekindle and reconnect with the world around them. 

Five initiatives

The Reading Rooms programme is divided into five project delivery areas:

  1. Children and young people, including those at risk or in care
  2. Criminal justice (specifically ex-young offenders)
  3. Older people, including those living in residential care homes
  4. Communities
  5. Social housing communities

Published: 30th August, 2017

Updated: 29th May, 2019

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  • What we do

    What we do

    Verbal is committed to bringing the benefits of literature & the language arts to the heart of our communities - through our own stories and the stories of others.

  • Mission and vision

    Mission and vision

    Find out what Verbal does

  • Contact us

    Contact details for Verbal

  • Andrea Doran

    Director of programming

  • James Kerr

    Chief executive

  • History

    History

    A short history of the Verbal building

  • Joseph Morning

    Psychology Manager

  • THIRD SPACE

    THIRD SPACE

    A cross-community and cross-border creative programme for marginalised and disadvantaged young people, delivered in partnership with Extern

  • Aoife Rodgers

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Little Legends now on Facebook

Little Legends now on Facebook

Little Legends is now available every Saturday morning on our Facebook page. Read more

Start: 2nd May, 2020 at 11:00am

End: 2nd May, 2020 at 12:00pm

Published: 24th November, 2017

Updated: 28th May, 2020

Author: Andrea ODonnell

Location: Eason, Level 3, Foyleside, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6XY

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Join Our Army Of Readers

Join Our Army Of Readers

We are looking for volunteers to become our ‘ARMY OF READERS’. Volunteer with us during the Covid-19 Lockdown Read more

Published: 20th April, 2020

Updated: 19th May, 2020

Author: Caoimhe Hegarty

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WellRead Digital Reading Rooms

WellRead Digital Reading Rooms

How your child can take part in WellRead Digital Reading Rooms Read more

Published: 19th May, 2020

Updated: 21st May, 2020

Author: Caoimhe Hegarty

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Contact: [email protected]

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Verbal Arts Centre
Stable Lane and Mall Wall
Bishop Street Within
Derry~Londonderry, BT48 6PU

Tel:028 7126 6946
Email:[email protected]

Registered Charity No NIC101482