Roger and Sophia’s story
Roger has always been a passionate reader, but I began to notice that, as a result of his dementia, his relationship with books was changing. Discovering the dementia-friendly workshops run by Equal Arts at our local library has made a remarkable difference—helping him reconnect with stories, words, and the joy of reading in new and meaningful ways.
Our house used to feel like a library. Roger would read anything and everything—fiction, biographies, books on architecture, even art catalogues, which reflect his background. But a couple of years ago, I noticed a gradual shift. He visited our shelves less often, and although he continued his daily routine of going out for the newspaper, he would only skim through it.
Then I heard about the workshops at the city library. They’re designed to be dementia-friendly, with a focus on reading and exploring archive collections. We decided to go along together, and we’ve now been attending for over a year. I often find myself encouraging others to join—I’m always talking about what we’ve been up to on a Tuesday afternoon.
The sessions are wonderfully varied and have given Roger a way to stay present and reconnect with his interests through words. He’s never without his camera, and whether it’s books, maps, poems, or posters, he’s there capturing it all.
Each workshop is led by an artist and always offers something new to be curious about. Sometimes there’s reading aloud, sometimes music, and always conversation. Meeting others and hearing different perspectives has been just as valuable as the activities themselves.
“The sessions have become a place where Roger feels comfortable, connected, and able to enjoy stories again—just in a different way.”
Sophia, Newcastle
The workshops are part of a wider project called Reading with Dementia, a collaboration between Equal Arts and Newcastle City Library. The initiative reimagines library collections in creative, accessible ways so that people living with dementia can continue to engage with books and language. It builds on earlier work by the charity, including the publication of two dementia-friendly books—one inspired by the library’s Thomas Bewick archive, and another exploring the life of Dorothy Wordsworth.
I’d love to see something like this in every library: a welcoming space where people living with dementia can continue to experience the pleasure of reading through materials that are engaging, thoughtful, and designed with them in mind.
Find out more about Equal Arts.
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