never knowingly without a pen
:Useful information for arts organisations and charities. One element of my part-time job with The Reader Organisation has been to recruit volunteers to work as Facilitators in the weekly Read Aloud Groups I've established in five (soon six) Wiltshire Libraries. The groups are specifically for people with dementia, or other illnesses affecting memory, and their carers. Challenging… Continue reading How to recruit volunteers
As I've mentioned before I work part-time for The Reader Organisation and I read aloud every week with groups of people living with dementia and their carers. We read all sorts of poems and stories, talk about feelings and memories that these bring to mind, enjoy a hot drink and a few cakes and generally… Continue reading The Homecoming of Sir Thomas Wyatt
I thought I'd let you know about some of the stories and poems I've read recently in my weekly read aloud groups for people who have dementia and memory loss. With Christmas fast approaching, you won't be surprised that there's been a seasonal flavour to our choice of literature. Whether or not you're living with… Continue reading Christmas stories and poems to read aloud
This week's photo challenge is to take a minimalist photo and this shot of my daughter holding a tiny image of a poppy reminded me of some of the WWI poetry I read with members of my read aloud, reading groups this week. A particular favourite was 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrae. One woman liked the mention… Continue reading A small poppy
My month off seems like a far away country, yet it's only been 12 days since I've been back at work. Thank goodness my job involves reading poetry, and thank goodness for Anthony Wilson's Lifesaving Poems series on his wonderful blog (soon to be made into a book by one of the UK's leading poetry… Continue reading Lifesaving Poems Saved the Day
One of the highlights of reading for a living is choosing which poems and stories to bring to my weekly, read aloud, shared reading groups. Whenever and whatever I’m reading at home (or on the move) my weekly groups are in my mind: will they find this story/novel extract/poem interesting? Will it get them talking?… Continue reading On not making assumptions about what people will enjoy reading.
Josephine Corcoran 