Book club for people with learning disabilities set to launch

Derby Book Festival has announced it is launching a new book club to support people with learning disabilities.

Working with Derby City Council’s Derby Libraries and Beyond Words, the UK’s national charity for visual literacy, The Book Club will start at Mickleover Library from September.

It will be led by volunteers from Derby Book Festival’s Shared Reading project, which supports health and wellbeing.

Beyond Words empower people with learning disabilities through word-free picture stories.

Every story is co-created with people with lived experience and trialled by people with learning disabilities.

Derby Libraries has already been running a Book Club at Alvaston Library since May, in partnership with the council’s Derby Adult Learning Service.

A third Book Club will be starting in September at Riverside Library.

Sian Hoyle, festival director for Derby Book Festival said: “Our Shared Reading project, which is funded by the National Lottery, uses poems and stories to support health and well-being, has been running since 2017 and goes from strength to strength.

“We now have 17 groups across the city and the project with Beyond Words is a new development for us to support people with learning disabilities with tried and tested books.”

Councillor Sarah Chambers, the city council’s cabinet member for cost of living, equalities and communities, said: “I’m thrilled Mickleover Library will host the 100th Beyond Words Book Club, thanks to the partnership between Derby Libraries, Derby Book Festival and Beyond Words.

“Not just that, but Riverside Library will also launch a group in September.

“This initiative is a powerful example of our commitment to fostering inclusion and connection for people with learning disabilities.

“A big thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who make these invaluable groups happen.”