Beyond Words is excited to announce that we have received a new grant that will enable us to bring our life-changing book clubs to even more people in South London.
Our book clubs are at the heart of why our charity exists. Not only do they develop peoples’ visual literacy and help build understanding, they also provide a place for people to build community. In them, people with learning disabilities or different communications needs come together to share stories from their own lives, make friends and socialise as well as discuss the news of the day.
Thanks to a new grant from City Bridge Trust we now have funding to expand the reach of our book clubs ever further, providing training, books and support for anyone who wants to make a difference to loneliness and emotional wellbeing in their area. This generous grant will enable us to create 30 new clubs in the London boroughs of Islington, Haringey, Ealing, Greenwich, Lewisham.
Alicia Wood, CEO of Beyond Words, said: “Stories are the absolute foundation of the way people talk to each other. We know the difference our book clubs and word-free picture stories make, helping people to recognise themselves in characters and stories and relate their own lives to them. Everyone deserves a space to make friends, share the issues affecting their lives and talk to each other.”
Book clubs can be held nearly anywhere that is a quiet, comfortable space with a ring of chairs. Could you help provide a space or facilitate a book club? Do you wish you had something similar in your area? Get in touch with our Community Manager Lucy Alexander to find out more about how you can get involved.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to the City Bridge Trust for their generosity. Beyond Words can only exist to do our life-changing work thanks to grants like this. We know it will make a difference.
New grant will create 30 new book clubs