Leamington care home to host World Read Aloud Day event on Thursday

Priors House care home on Old Milverton Lane will open its doors from 2pm for the free film screening, featuring Storyteller Laureate Taffy Thomas MBE, performing a story and providing tips and advice for reading aloud.

Care UK has teamed up with the patron of The Society for Storytelling to promote the therapeutic benefits of reading aloud to older people.

Taffy is currently the most experienced English storyteller in the country, having performed globally with a repertoire of more than 300 stories.

The home will also be joined by students from Warwick School for an interactive reading session and afternoon tea.

Residents will also be sharing their own short stories with the students, some have written fictional tales and others have written stories based on a specific event in their lives.

Home manager, Francine Summers, explained why Priors House is taking part in World Read Aloud Day

She said: “Reading aloud has many therapeutic benefits for older people. It is calming for those living with dementia, helpful for those with failing eyesight, and soothing for those unable to communicate. It is also an enjoyable activity that family and friends can do with their loved one when paying them a visit.

“The residents have really enjoyed writing the stories and are looking forward to sharing them with the students. We hope that people in Leamington will join us for a delightful afternoon of storytelling and opportunity to discuss favourite books and classic literature.”

World Read Aloud Day is an annual event which celebrates the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories, and it is celebrated by millions of people in more than 100 countries.