Dear reader, this posting is already long overdue, but there is a good reason. I started the new year embarked upon a new venture ensuring those families and individuals in need in our neighbourhood do not go to bed hungry at night.
If you have followed my earlier postings, you will know that over the last year or so I have been helping in my community to feed the hearts and minds of people through a 'shared reading aloud' initiative. I have also been working with local residents to ensure that we maintain our local library service in the face of swingeing local council budget cuts. It was then, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, I was given an opportunity, out of the blue it seemed, to work with our local Food Bank.
There are over a hundred such organisations operating around the country, all serving vulnerable families and individuals who face basic hunger as one of the immediate consequences of a change in their circumstances - albeit unemployment, family break up, or a delay in receiving welfare support or benefits. The operation depends heavily on local people, churches, schools and companies donating food to the Food Bank. I have been amazed at the generosity of these communities, bringing bags of shopping to us every week. We also work closely with referral agencies in the city, who make the initial assessment and provide the vouchers which ensures the families get a balanced supply of food to last them three days, which is hopefully long enough to cover the period before their support arrangements are sorted out. I initially got involved on a 'let's just give it a try' basis and now I'm completely caught up in the work - it is demanding but satisfying. The spirit of local people helping each other is very strong and inspiring.
The phrase 'let them eat cake' is one that is popularly supposed to have been uttered by Marie Antoinette (1755-1793). It seems however the evidence for this is little more than a mention in Jean Jacques Rousseau's (1712-1778) autobiographical work 'Les Confessions' about ' ..a great princess who was told that the peasants had no bread, and who responded: 'Let them eat brioche.' The rest, as they say, is history!
Last week, I collected a donation from a local company which involved an 80 mile round trip up the motorway in our van. It was to pick up a load of 81 trays from an order that had been cancelled at the last moment and was taking up space in the warehouse. Within twenty four hours, families, individuals, and organisations whom we serve, were tucking in to a special treat of chocolate chip...brioche. It was a day when it seemed everyone could have their cake and eat it!
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Save our library!
Why are our public library services currently causing controversy across the length and breadth of this country?
Well, ever since local councils, across England, started targeting public library services for budget cuts and closures local people have been organising themselves in order to fight such proposals and preserve these essential services. National headlines have been generated on a regular basis and in my own local market town we have been hosting resident meetings, for several months now, seeking support and ideas on how we can save our library services.
The message coming from our meetings has been consistent and strong. Local people value their library and its staff and they will not stand by and see it run down or closed altogether. The policy of closing, or severely reducing the capacity of public libraries, is so short-sighted. Libraries are more than a store for old books. They are a gateway to information, advice, learning, and community inclusion for all people. They enable people to participate in society and to seek literary development and entertainment through a rich mix of mediums including internet access, DVDs, audio books, databases, reading groups and advice sessions. Indeed, many would consider them a basic, universal, service that people should expect of any civilised and inclusive society.
But there is another aspect to this rousing of the 'silent majority'. People are finding their voice. The issue captures the interest of all generations. In our town, the children who first discovered their love of reading in their local library are now the parents who are helping their children do the same.
At our Christmas Lights event on Saturday, our 'Friends of Newport Pagnell Library' group ran a stall for the first time, with a family quiz and a chance to talk to people face to face about our passion for the library and why we believe we must keep it for our town and for the generations to come. We were delighted at the positive reaction we received and the offers of support and interest in our cause.
We have also enlisted the help of a famous, now long dead, advocate of public access to literacy, literature and learning - Charles Dickens. We'll be celebrating the bi-centenary of his birth in February 2012 but his stories are today still being enjoyed and read and performed on television and in films. We are putting on some open readings of 'A Christmas Carol' in our library over the next couple of weeks. It's another way we can highlight the value of our library, and our literary heritage, and have a good time into the bargain.
All of us involved in the Friends of Newport Pagnell Library are hoping that the decision-makers in our councils up and down the land - who currently are exhibiting very Scrooge-like behaviour - will see the light. To misquote Dickens, at the moment they seem to be saying
'every idiot who goes about with ['save our library'] on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!'.
Our earnest hope is that through the actions and commitment of local people in local communities, such as ours, we will witness a change of heart from our councils and a vote for the preservation of public libraries of which we can all be proud.
Have a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!
Well, ever since local councils, across England, started targeting public library services for budget cuts and closures local people have been organising themselves in order to fight such proposals and preserve these essential services. National headlines have been generated on a regular basis and in my own local market town we have been hosting resident meetings, for several months now, seeking support and ideas on how we can save our library services.
The message coming from our meetings has been consistent and strong. Local people value their library and its staff and they will not stand by and see it run down or closed altogether. The policy of closing, or severely reducing the capacity of public libraries, is so short-sighted. Libraries are more than a store for old books. They are a gateway to information, advice, learning, and community inclusion for all people. They enable people to participate in society and to seek literary development and entertainment through a rich mix of mediums including internet access, DVDs, audio books, databases, reading groups and advice sessions. Indeed, many would consider them a basic, universal, service that people should expect of any civilised and inclusive society.
But there is another aspect to this rousing of the 'silent majority'. People are finding their voice. The issue captures the interest of all generations. In our town, the children who first discovered their love of reading in their local library are now the parents who are helping their children do the same.
At our Christmas Lights event on Saturday, our 'Friends of Newport Pagnell Library' group ran a stall for the first time, with a family quiz and a chance to talk to people face to face about our passion for the library and why we believe we must keep it for our town and for the generations to come. We were delighted at the positive reaction we received and the offers of support and interest in our cause.
We have also enlisted the help of a famous, now long dead, advocate of public access to literacy, literature and learning - Charles Dickens. We'll be celebrating the bi-centenary of his birth in February 2012 but his stories are today still being enjoyed and read and performed on television and in films. We are putting on some open readings of 'A Christmas Carol' in our library over the next couple of weeks. It's another way we can highlight the value of our library, and our literary heritage, and have a good time into the bargain.
All of us involved in the Friends of Newport Pagnell Library are hoping that the decision-makers in our councils up and down the land - who currently are exhibiting very Scrooge-like behaviour - will see the light. To misquote Dickens, at the moment they seem to be saying
'every idiot who goes about with ['save our library'] on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart!'.
Our earnest hope is that through the actions and commitment of local people in local communities, such as ours, we will witness a change of heart from our councils and a vote for the preservation of public libraries of which we can all be proud.
Have a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!
Monday, 7 November 2011
Enrichment from deep reading...
As I write these words the weather outside is a classic November day with mist and grey clouds and the first shivering winds of winter. Only last week we were enjoying late autumn sunshine and the golden leaves clinging to their branches, if only for a few more days.
Through this blog I have shared my passion for reading with people of all ages. It is something that inspires me more the more I do it. In this season of falling leaves and temperatures, I have been introducing groups to the simple pleasures of turning the leaves of a book and thereby discovering the hidden treasures and delights within. Last week, at a local family centre for parents and children, one of our participants volunteered to read aloud to the group even though literacy and reading was something she normally dreaded. She had been inspired by the story we were reading aloud to each other and it was a real breakthrough moment. I felt humbled because there are no guarantees with this approach; every group, every person, is different and comes to the session on their own terms.
I tend to be reading a least a couple of books concurrently and this week I came across the concept of 'deep reading'. Nicholas Carr, in his book The Shallows - How the internet is changing the way we read, think and remember explains that there are many types of reading but the more absorbed we become in what we are reading the more we might experience the quite and calm of 'deep reading'. One of the most common responses I get from my shared reading groups is a feeling of quiet and calm, focusing on the story and the words, shutting out other distractions and, for some, the remembrance of that special feeling of when they were read to as a child. I work with groups at the moment where for many that kind of childhood experience is not something they can appreciate - nobody read to them as a child. It does not occur to them, therefore, that they should read with their children. My hope is that through participating in a shared reading aloud group they will feel inspired to read to their children and thereby enrich their own and their children's reading lives.
I am not in the habit of consulting ancient masters but this quote I came across from Confucius seems a particularly appropriate way to finish 'No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.'
Through this blog I have shared my passion for reading with people of all ages. It is something that inspires me more the more I do it. In this season of falling leaves and temperatures, I have been introducing groups to the simple pleasures of turning the leaves of a book and thereby discovering the hidden treasures and delights within. Last week, at a local family centre for parents and children, one of our participants volunteered to read aloud to the group even though literacy and reading was something she normally dreaded. She had been inspired by the story we were reading aloud to each other and it was a real breakthrough moment. I felt humbled because there are no guarantees with this approach; every group, every person, is different and comes to the session on their own terms.
I tend to be reading a least a couple of books concurrently and this week I came across the concept of 'deep reading'. Nicholas Carr, in his book The Shallows - How the internet is changing the way we read, think and remember explains that there are many types of reading but the more absorbed we become in what we are reading the more we might experience the quite and calm of 'deep reading'. One of the most common responses I get from my shared reading groups is a feeling of quiet and calm, focusing on the story and the words, shutting out other distractions and, for some, the remembrance of that special feeling of when they were read to as a child. I work with groups at the moment where for many that kind of childhood experience is not something they can appreciate - nobody read to them as a child. It does not occur to them, therefore, that they should read with their children. My hope is that through participating in a shared reading aloud group they will feel inspired to read to their children and thereby enrich their own and their children's reading lives.
I am not in the habit of consulting ancient masters but this quote I came across from Confucius seems a particularly appropriate way to finish 'No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.'
Friday, 7 October 2011
Reading books allowed!
Where did September go? Forgive me but a holiday to the Isle of Skye and a flurry of activity that coincided with the return of the hubbub of schoolchildren on our local playing field conspired to keep me from updating my story until now.
My optimism in the 'dog days' at the end of of August, with 'another summer's promise almost gone' was channelled into a clutch of shared reading aloud 'taster' sessions. Having run several work-based lunch time sessions, a delightful open session in a local children's centre, and with more sessions lined up with our colleagues at Age UK Northampton, another family centre and hopefully our local library, it seems the time has come to consider establishing a dedicated voluntary organisation to manage the programme as it continues to develop. The options are currently being weighed but finding a name for the new organisation is proving a challenge. How do you capture the spirit and ethos of an activity that people can often begin to appreciate only once they have tried it for themselves? A number of suggestions have been made, 'page turners', 'chapter and verse' and the like but my current favourite is 'Books Allowed' (pun intended!).
This late summer sunshine has been delightful and has certainly inspired me to press on with spreading the word about the many benefits of participating in shared reading aloud. I'm pleased to say that more advocates are being gained each week. Our most recent potential converts were encountered at an away day I facilitated at the Mansion in Bletchley Park, aptly on National Poetry Day. We celebrated with a hiaku which amused me at least.
My optimism in the 'dog days' at the end of of August, with 'another summer's promise almost gone' was channelled into a clutch of shared reading aloud 'taster' sessions. Having run several work-based lunch time sessions, a delightful open session in a local children's centre, and with more sessions lined up with our colleagues at Age UK Northampton, another family centre and hopefully our local library, it seems the time has come to consider establishing a dedicated voluntary organisation to manage the programme as it continues to develop. The options are currently being weighed but finding a name for the new organisation is proving a challenge. How do you capture the spirit and ethos of an activity that people can often begin to appreciate only once they have tried it for themselves? A number of suggestions have been made, 'page turners', 'chapter and verse' and the like but my current favourite is 'Books Allowed' (pun intended!).
This late summer sunshine has been delightful and has certainly inspired me to press on with spreading the word about the many benefits of participating in shared reading aloud. I'm pleased to say that more advocates are being gained each week. Our most recent potential converts were encountered at an away day I facilitated at the Mansion in Bletchley Park, aptly on National Poetry Day. We celebrated with a hiaku which amused me at least.
‘To-con-vey one's mood
In sev-en-teen syll-able-s
Is ve-ry dif-fic’
In sev-en-teen syll-able-s
Is ve-ry dif-fic’
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Getting results from seeding and nurturing...
One aspect of having more time in a day is the opportunity to take a greater interest in the garden. It may sound odd, to anyone who knows me, but I am taking delight in nurturing seeds and growing herbs from scratch. But as someone with no previous interest or experience in such pursuits I am having to appreciate that it takes time and patience to get results.
There are several parallels between my new found horticultural interests and my efforts to nurture 'shared reading aloud groups' in my local area. I am spending a lot of my time explaining the simplicity of the approach (sewing the seed) and running taster sessions with staff teams (tending the soil) at the voluntary organisations I am depending upon to help me get the groups operational. But it seems that this approach is finally starting to bear fruit. Within the next couple of months 'shared reading aloud' groups will be operational in two community centres in MK, my local library and at day centres and groups run by Age UK in Northamptonshire.
In the same way that my coriander flourished once I'd moved it to the herb box, I am hoping that these fledgling groups will soon be running themselves. As I sat in the office of a community centre manager this afternoon I spotted a large quotation scrawled on his notice board - 'With confidence, you have won before you have started'. Marcus Garvey '
I am confident these groups will flourish!
There are several parallels between my new found horticultural interests and my efforts to nurture 'shared reading aloud groups' in my local area. I am spending a lot of my time explaining the simplicity of the approach (sewing the seed) and running taster sessions with staff teams (tending the soil) at the voluntary organisations I am depending upon to help me get the groups operational. But it seems that this approach is finally starting to bear fruit. Within the next couple of months 'shared reading aloud' groups will be operational in two community centres in MK, my local library and at day centres and groups run by Age UK in Northamptonshire.
In the same way that my coriander flourished once I'd moved it to the herb box, I am hoping that these fledgling groups will soon be running themselves. As I sat in the office of a community centre manager this afternoon I spotted a large quotation scrawled on his notice board - 'With confidence, you have won before you have started'. Marcus Garvey '
I am confident these groups will flourish!
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Shared reading aloud...
It's been three months since I retired from the civil service and gave myself permission to follow my heart and passion for introducing people to the fun of shared reading aloud. In that time, I have run taster sessions for the staff at two voluntary organisations with whom I have a connection and they have gone down really well.
The principle is essentially quite simple. Reading a piece of classic literature or poetry aloud among a group of attentive listeners and contributors is a positive force for enhancing personal wellbeing. The groups provide space in people's busy lives to discuss their responses to the words and the stories they hear and to share their feelings in a supportive environment.
Dipping into the classics of literature and poetry, with the support of a 'reading aloud' group, opens up a world of human experience for people to share.
If you'd like to find out more about the approach, or would be interested in helping to lead a group, you can contact me at john@jmcollaboration.co.uk or at reading@snvb.org.uk.
John Marshall
The principle is essentially quite simple. Reading a piece of classic literature or poetry aloud among a group of attentive listeners and contributors is a positive force for enhancing personal wellbeing. The groups provide space in people's busy lives to discuss their responses to the words and the stories they hear and to share their feelings in a supportive environment.
Dipping into the classics of literature and poetry, with the support of a 'reading aloud' group, opens up a world of human experience for people to share.
If you'd like to find out more about the approach, or would be interested in helping to lead a group, you can contact me at john@jmcollaboration.co.uk or at reading@snvb.org.uk.
John Marshall
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