Creating Community One Story at a Time at Harborough's Reading Group

In a world where loneliness and disconnection are increasingly common, a powerful creative movement in Market Harborough is helping people come together simply by listening to stories and poems read aloud.

Shared reading may not involve paintbrushes, instruments or performance stages, but those behind the local group believe it creates something equally meaningful: connection and friendship. Every Tuesday afternoon from 2 pm to 3.30 pm, people gather at Market Harborough Library in the Symington Building to share literature, conversation and companionship in a warm and welcoming environment.

Image by: Bill Newsinger

The idea is beautifully simple. Poems and stories are read aloud live during the session, with no preparation needed and absolutely no pressure to read out loud. Participants can just sit, listen and join the conversation if and when they feel comfortable. In doing so, the group creates a shared experience that many say has become an important part of their week.

What emerges is far more than a book club. Shared Reading creates space for people to slow down, reflect and connect, not only with literature, but with one another. Friendships naturally develop through regular meetings and conversations, and many participants continue chatting afterwards over coffee at Insomnia, also based within the Symington Building. Those extra conversations and informal moments have become an important extension of the group itself, helping people build lasting social connections and a stronger sense of belonging.

Shared Reading first arrived in Leicestershire in 2014 through a project supported by Culture Leicestershire. Although the original Harborough group came to an end during the Covid pandemic, newly trained volunteers enabled the sessions to relaunch earlier this year, quickly rebuilding a supportive and enthusiastic community.

The movement itself was pioneered by Liverpool charity The Reader, which describes Shared Reading as “a unique experience that helps thousands of people to connect, feel good and live well.” Locally, the organisation continues to work closely with Culture Leicestershire to support reading groups across the county under the phrase: “Make Friends, with a Book”.

Image by: Bill Newsinger

Those involved are passionate about the positive impact the sessions can have on emotional well-being and mental health. “Shared Reading is not therapy, but it is therapeutic,” the organisers explain. Research consistently supports that idea. In one recent survey, 93% of participants said they felt better after attending a session, while 91% reported improvements in confidence and communication skills.

For some, the effect can feel life-changing. One participant described the groups as “a different kind of medicine”, adding: “It’s through them that I’ve found a way back to life.”

That sense of support and community has helped the relaunched Harborough group flourish in a remarkably short space of time. Organisers describe the town as an especially positive place to nurture creativity and connection, praising both the welcoming atmosphere and the beautiful library setting within the historic Symington Building.

Looking ahead, the team hopes Shared Reading will continue growing across the county while remaining rooted in the same friendly, inclusive spirit that defines the Harborough sessions today. Above all, they hope more people discover that sometimes the simplest act — sitting together and listening to a story — can help people feel seen, heard and a little less alone.

You can find more information about the Culture Leicestershire reading group here:

https://www.leicestershiresharedreading.org/