Hanover Inpractice

# 25
HANOVER COURT, CINDERFORD
By hook or by book!
Cinderford residents enjoy a ‘quiet corner’
every Wednesday since Estate Manager
Helen Lee introduced a reading therapy
group to the Extra Care estate.
Local semi-retired teacher Mary reads
aloud with around 10 residents – who
include those with memory loss and sight
loss – and then rounds it off with a
discussion. The group reads novels –
including Goodnight Mister Tom, and a
Town Called Alice – as well as short
stories, poems and plays.
It came about when Helen saw that some
residents ‘needed a little bit more’ than the
activities already on offer as their health
problems were quite isolating. She also
appreciated that these particular groups
appreciated ‘quiet’ time. She approached
Mary for help and secured Greenshoots
funding to help pay for the initiative.
“
It reaches out to people
who might otherwise find it
difficult or impossible to
read independently.
– Helen Lee, Estate Manager”
The group is hugely entertaining but also
helps to trigger memories because
members are encouraged to interact with
each other and think about how the reading
material relates to their own experiences.
But the best thing about this group is that
it reaches out to residents who might
otherwise find it difficult or impossible to
read independently – and therefore learn
about and appreciate new literature.
HANOVER INPRACTICE