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A Blog on Life, the Universe & Stories...
We hope you enjoy this collection of stories, insights and articles about reading and life from our groups members, facilitators, clients, community and friends.
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New Blue Mountains Men's Groups: Call for Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to become facilitators for our new Shared Reading Men's Groups to begin in October to support Men's Mental...
Christopher Smith
Aug 122 min read
Powerful documentary reveals how ‘Shared Reading’ is fighting the Loneliness Epidemic
'Life, the Universe & Stories' is now available to watch on YouTube... A heartwarming and inspiring new short documentary entitled ‘...
Christopher Smith
Jul 113 min read
What’s not to love?!
A reflection on the experience of Shared Reading and our Facilitator Training written by Susan Connell... I love books and love reading....
Christopher Smith
Jun 232 min read
Men's Mental Health Funding Boost
We're very happy to share the news of the new funding we have secured for new Men's Groups as reported in the Blue Mountains Gazette......
Christopher Smith
May 212 min read
Volunteers inspire community support for Shared Reading
We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Springwood Uniting Church and to our very own volunteer Karon Coombs for their recent...
Christopher Smith
Dec 9, 20242 min read
Doing a TED Talk when you’re socially anxious...
Christopher Smith reflects on his recent experience as a TEDx speaker when all of his fears came true... what's the worst that could...
Christopher Smith
Dec 9, 20245 min read
Citizen of Year rewarded for helping prevent loneliness through Shared Reading program
I am honoured and humbled to have been recognised as Blue Mountains Citizen of the Year as reported in this article published in the Blue...
Christopher Smith
Aug 15, 20243 min read
La Trobe University reports on Bibliotherapy: how reading with others can boost your wellbeing
Senior Lecturers from La Trobe University prompt us to consider why we’re drawn to bibliotherapy (reading for therapy) in times of crisis...
Christopher Smith
Jul 19, 20246 min read
Helping people feel less alone... why I became a Shared Reading facilitator.
Chris reflects on his journey and the purpose he found in Shared Reading groups.
Christopher Smith
Mar 22, 20233 min read
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination...
Alison shares her experience of a Shared Reading group in this beautifully written piece. Thank you Alison.
Alison
Mar 16, 20234 min read
“All I have to do is open up to the nourishment coming in”
Freda has been attending a Shared Reading group for a couple of years now. Here, she reflects on how she came to be in the group and what...
Freda (group member)
Jul 5, 20192 min read
A shared reading session can be the brightest mirror
“It struck me that as I deny acknowledgement to someone living on the street, I deny an expression of a part of myself. As I walk past...
Christopher Smith
Feb 6, 20183 min read
Gratitude is a reward for letting go...
“I am beginning to understand that my reactions to what people say and do are to do with the ways in which I have been conditioned – that...
Christopher Smith
Jan 18, 20185 min read
How shared reading helped me to be near people
– By Sara Fawcett – “…it made me almost feel free. Like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I found myself talking to people I hadn’t...
Sara Fawcett
Dec 5, 20177 min read
Stories of change – Mary
“…I thought that I could not get back into nursing, shared reading has changed that…” Mary has been attending shared reading groups for...
Mary Houghis
Nov 30, 20171 min read
Stimulating the creativity of our readers
“After the reading group I feel more connected, alert and alive” Freda B Fischer is new to shared reading, but in a few short weeks has...
Christopher Smith
Oct 8, 20171 min read
Shared Reading: What It Is & Why I Love It
I remember reading the poem Digging by Seamus Heaney in a reading group at a time when I was struggling with the idea of masculinity...
Christopher Smith
Aug 13, 20173 min read
How Shared Reading Broke Down Barriers for My Clients
“…the people that we consider face the most barriers are the ones who are turning up every week…” I am an employment consultant and with...
Susan Taktak
Aug 11, 20173 min read
A Reading Resurrection
Literature was murdered for me in high school. The dissection of texts, the endless analysis of meaning and themes, seemed to destroy the...
Alex Carbonetti
Aug 11, 20172 min read
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