The start of a national movement in dementia-friendly reading
After months building partnerships, delivering creative workshops, training, evaluation and forming new links across the UK, this June we staged the National Reading with Dementia Symposium here in Newcastle.
The lived experience shared and the feedback from the day highlighted we're at the start of a national movement around dementia-friendly reading.
Bourne out of our Reading with Dementia project with Newcastle Libraries, the symposium was an opportunity to hear from others working in this emerging field.
Summing up the day Luke Burton, director of libraries at Arts Council England, said: “We can talk about metrics all we want but it is the stories of people’s lives that are the most impactful and there’s been a real benefit of hearing the different experiences in the room.
“It was great to see the impact of the work being shared. What has come through is the empowering of participants. We heard of training delivery, Reading with Dementia groups continuing opportunities for new collaborations.”
With representatives attending from across the UK, delegates heard the different approaches to dementia-friendly reading all ultimately working towards the shared aimed of creating connections and supporting people with dementia to continue reading for enjoyment.
Conversations are ongoing about the many ways different organisations and library services can ensure they have an engaging and informed offer for people living with dementia.
Programme Overview
10am: Registration and refreshments
10.30am: Welcome and keynote address
Welcome from Sharon Traill, Community Hubs and Libraries Manager, Newcastle Libraries, followed by keynote address from Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive, Libraries Connected.
11am - 11.45am: Reading with Dementia - Project overview and key findings
Hear from Sarah Lawrance (Equal Arts) and Dr Anna Goulding (Northumbria University) about the approches through the 18-month Reading with Dementia programme, the impact on participants' reading confidence and wellbeing, and how both historic collections and contemporary resources have been used to stimulate reading and support social connection.
11.45am – 12.30pm: Panel discussions – Overcoming barriers and creating connections
Dr Karen Franks, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, Gateshead; Romi Jones, Writer and Creative Facilitator; and Ceinwen Haydon, Poet and Creative Facilitator. Panellists share their experience of overcoming barriers to reading with dementia. With contributions from readers with lived experience of dementia and creative facilitators involved in the Reading with Dementia programme.
Lunch and networking opportunities.
13.15pm – 2.30pm: Showcase
Hear about different, practical approaches to dementia-friendly reading from organisations leading the way in this emerging field. Contributors include Dr Jane Lugea from the Still Reading project at Queen's University, Belfast; Nat Yates, Artist-in-Residence at Boulmer Court supported living scheme, Chester-le-Street; Alison Kirkpatrick, Psychology Research Assistant at Verbal Arts Centre, Derry.
Afternoon refreshment break.
2.45pm – 3.45pm: Practical Workshops
In these facilitated workshops you'll have an opportunity to test out ideas for growing dementia-friendly reading in your organisation with other delegates and speakers. A safe space to explore potential challenges and opportunities and hopefully leave with clear actions and next steps.
Workshop 1: Reading and talking about poetry - This workshop focuses on selecting suitable poems, and the skills/techniques for reading and talking about poetry with people living with dementia.
Workshop 2: Creating dementia-friendly reading resources using what you've got - Explore how to choose and adapt texts from a variety of sources to create dementia-friendly reading materials.
Workshop 3: Facilitating reading in care settings - This workshop focuses on navigating some of the practical challenges associated with facilitating reading in dementia care homes and supported living schemes.
4pm - 4.30pm: Feedback and Closing Reflections
Luke Burton, Director of Libraries at Arts Council England. Luke Burton will be in attendance throughout the day, listening to speakers and delegates.
