On 26 April we visited Surrey to host our first open day for anyone interested in our book clubs, and are delighted to report it was a huge success. We held several book clubs over the course of the day, helping everyone who visited to understand how our books and our book clubs work.
We were joined by several organisations including Surrey Coalition for Disabled People, Surrey Choices, Active Prospects, Surrey County Council, Leatherhead Link and Cobham Link, as well as many more people who turned up and got involved.
It was so moving to witness the magic that happens when our founders, Sheila and Nigel Hollins, get people reading and talking. Seeing the light that goes on when people understand that even if they can’t read, they can take part in reading a Beyond Words story, is amazing – as well as seeing people connecting and laughing with each other.
Over the last month we have also presented the Beyond Words book clubs to all the learning disability partnership boards in Surrey. Having something simple and effective to help people with learning disabilities have better lives has gone down well with people who work for the council and NHS, particularly at a time councils are having to cut budgets.
We already have five confirmed new book clubs that will start in Surrey and many more people have expressed their interest. We will be hosting another day to start training facilitators this June, with more to follow.
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us get our Surrey book club initiative off the ground. Without the amazing support of the Big Paddle, the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and the Jo Cox Loneliness Foundation our work in this area would not be possible.