Verbal Wellbeing is a low threshold, high quality outreach programme of shared reading activity. It celebrates literature and fosters rich and sustainable levels of community engagement.

Reading aloud 

The Verbal Wellbeing model involves a group of people meeting weekly in a community location. Sessions are structured and short stories are selected in advance to meet the needs of the group. The story 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. Questions and conversation prompts designed by our in-house psychology team encourage groups to explore how the story might relate to their own lives and circumstances. 

A safe space 

Verbal Wellbeing 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, the border counties and the North of England. 

Verbal Wellbeing works across the life space supporting people who, for a range of reasons, have become disengaged and help them to rekindle