Tori at the launch of Joe and Julie Stop Smoking
Tori’s story
Favourite Beyond Words book: All of them!
Tori first came across our books during the pandemic. When coronavirus meant that many of us ended up stuck in the house, our Book Clubs moved online, with many of them taking place over Zoom. This meant that lots of people who were lonely or missing their Book Club got a chance to take part.
After joining one of our Zoom Book Clubs, Tori liked Books Beyond Words so much that when she heard we were looking for co-trainers at City Lit, she wanted to join right away.
In February 2023, she became part of our co-trainer programme. The programme is designed to help both organisations who want to learn more about what makes our Book Clubs so great, and to give people with learning disabilities the tools and confidence to act as trainers.
Now, Tori is so confident, she has even started reading with other people. Tori's grandma, who she is very close to, has dementia. Tori has found that reading with her is a perfect way for them to share time together.
“I Facetime her every day on Mummy’s phone. We say: Grandma, tonight it’s story time, so get in your nightie and get cosy. Mummy holds the book, and I ask Grandma to tell me what she sees in the pictures. Her favourite book is all of them!”
Since joining, Tori has gone from strength to strength, earning two certificates for helping train people in how fun Book Clubs can be. She even gained the confidence to talk to her local group, HeartNSoul, about starting a Book Club there, which has now had its first sessions.