Families can enjoy a programme of festive fun this week as Liverpool-based The Reader supports isolated older people in the run up to Christmas.
The charity will kick of its 72-hour fundraising Big Give Christmas Challenge tomorrow (29 November), and will mark it with a selection of seasonal activities.
Visitors at The Reader’s Calderstones Park base will be treated to free poetry readings and pamper sessions as well as Christmas film screenings and children’s activities from 29 November until 2 December, as the organisation encourages the public to donate online to its Big Give campaign.
The Reader supports communities to read out loud together to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation. As part of this work, its staff and volunteers read with more than 500 older people in care homes, community and residential settings each week.
It is working towards an overall £40,000 fundraising target for the campaign which would enable the recruitment, training and support of 20 additional volunteers to help a further 150 older people.
Postcode Support Trust and The Pilgrim Trust could contribute £20,000 of the total having pledged to provide match funding for the money raised during the 72-hour window, which starts at 12pm on Tuesday and ends at 12pm on Friday.
The Reader’s Big Give Christmas Challenge full festive programme:
Activities in The Storybarn
Free sessions (pre-booking is essential at www.thestorybarn.org.uk) will take place at 10am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 4pm on 29 November – 1 December
A session will be held at 10am on 2 December
Activities in The Reader Café
- Hourly Poetry Readings from 12pm on 29 November until 12pm on 2 December.
- Free Dog Grooming between 10am and 4pm 30 November and 1 December.
- Free Nail Bar between 12pm and 4pm on 29 November – 1 December.
Activities in The Reader Ice Cream Parlour
Free festive film screenings at 1pm and 7pm on 29 November – 1 December (pre-booking is essential at www.thereader.org.uk/events)
