Literary Bonanza at Brooklands Care Home

The introduction of a comprehensive literary programme by Brooklands Care Home was officially launched on 14th September with a visit from two local authors – Cressida McLaughlin and Isabelle King and children from the St Francis Assisi School.

The programme, which aims to reach everyone within the home and forge links with the wider community, is designed to bring the joys of reading to all.

Talking newspapers and magazines from the Norfolk charity Chatterbox are being made available to residents and a group of resident ‘Reading Ambassadors’ are reading regularly to residents unable to read themselves.

Cressida talked about her journey to becoming a published author (The Once in a Blue Moon Guesthouse, Open for Business, Fully Booked and Do Not Disturb are amongst some of her published works) and read from her work.

Isabelle (author of The Norfolk Story Book and Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador) also read out some extracts from her books.

Isabelle says: “I am thrilled to be part of the Brooklands literacy initiative. I have designed some enjoyable and relaxed storytelling sessions and creative writing workshops especially for Care Homes – so it was very interesting to talk to residents and the team in the home.”

Julia Chapman-Wright, manager of Brooklands says: “All the 13 care homes in our group have been tasked with coming up with new ways of making a difference to our residents’ lives by providing a programme of purposeful and meaningful activities.  We have chosen literacy as we believe it will bring benefits to all residents and allow us to engage with the community.”