The Reading Round

Project overview

The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) is a UK charity that helps supports writers. It delivers grants, education, and outreach programmes.

One of RLF’s outreach programmes is The Reading Round, a reading group with a difference. Through Reading Rounds, a group of participants gathers for 90 minutes with a writer who is trained to facilitate the group. The writer shares printed copies of a short story or a poem, reads them aloud, and then guides a discussion of ideas, responses and techniques, based on the text. Unlike a conventional book group, no homework or other reading is required.

This type of approach has been used by the RLF in well over a hundred community groups in the last decade.

RLF recognised that the Reading Rounds might be helpful for people with palliative and end of life care needs. They worked with Havens Hospices to trial the model with a group of outpatients.

Outcomes

The trial consisted of six sessions that were each 90 minutes long. It found that this was a highly effective way of working with hospice outpatients.

Group members were incredibly positive about the programme. They said they loved the process of being read to, and enjoyed being able to share their love of literature in a safe space where they didn’t have to think about their illness. They found the sessions emotionally and intellectually engaging.

The group bonded together over the six weeks and formed friendships. Some even began to lend each other books and recommend authors.

Key facilitators

Syd Moore, the writer who facilitates the sessions at Havens, already had a relationship with the hospice before beginning the trial. This meant she had a good understanding of the way the hospice works and the nature of hospice care.

When setting up the trial, the hospice invited patients they knew enjoyed reading, but also opened the sessions up to people who were looking to try something different. The Reading Rounds model is very inclusive and democratic, so it works equally well with those who love reading, or are less confident but enjoy ideas and discussion.

Because the writer reads aloud, and is skilled at leading the discussion, everyone can join in - even those who struggle to see, are not able to hold a book or find it hard to concentrate for long spells.

The group sets ground rules to help manage expectations and enable everyone to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts about the literature being discussed (including what they did not like!).

RLF delivers Reading Rounds at no extra cost to the hospice (this includes paying for facilitation and making sure the sessions comply with copyright). All the hospice needs to do is provide a venue for meetings and refreshments as appropriate.

Following the success of the trial at Havens, the Reading Rounds is now on its sixth course. RLF has also begun to deliver Reading Rounds at Pilgrims Hospices, in Kent.

RLF are interested to hear from other hospices who might be interested in running Reading Rounds. Please contact the team to find out if there is an available writer who can facilitate the groups in your area.