Thanks for visiting my JustGiving page! I’m fundraising for The Reader, a charity that runs Shared Reading groups in my area, and which is also the place where I work.

All around the UK, Shared Reading brings thousands of people together on a weekly basis to talk, laugh and share great books, poems and plays aloud.

The groups get people talking and connecting with each other in meaningful ways. Friendships are made that are long lasting. Wellbeing and health are positively improved.

Throughout coronavirus, The Reader and its amazing staff and volunteers have kept on reading with people in care homes, hospices, hospitals, temporary accommodation, online library services, prisons and in homes throughout the UK.

I’m fundraising to help The Reader continue its work because it's needed more than ever right now. All donations will go towards supporting groups across the UK, providing reading resources for groups, and helping to ensure that anyone can attend a Shared Reading group for free.

I’ll be sharing 12 videos of me reading 12 seasonal poems on Twitter in the 12 days leading up to Christmas; keep up to date with my progress on this page! Thank you for your generous support.

To find out more about The Reader and Shared Reading, visit www.thereader.org.uk