Our Book Clubs are life-changing. They provide a safe space for people who communicate differently, including people with learning disabilities, to have fun, make friends and develop a sense of community.

Because we know how much of a difference they make, we’ve created a special starter kit with everything you need to build your own. The Book Club in a Box project includes books, promotional materials and more to make it as easy as possible to bring a life-changing Book Club to your area.

Best of all, if you’re located in England, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we can send you a Book Club in a Box for free.

We want to create over 300 new Book Clubs across the country by 2026.

Book Clubs are simple. People with and without learning disabilities come together to read books from our word-free picture story series Books Beyond Words, building their own story by describing what they see in each of the pictures. Each story is unique, bringing together everyone’s experiences and encouraging them to talk about their own lives.

All you need for a Book Club to thrive is people who want to read, a place they can come together, and books to read together.

Our Book Club in a Box kit includes everything you need to start your own Book Club:

• 30 books from the word-free Books Beyond Words series - enough for six months of Book Clubs

• A How-To guide with top tips

• Posters and leaflets to promote your Book Club

• Emotions charts to see the impact your Book Club has

• Lanyards and member cards for your members

• A free license to our BW Story App, giving you access to our whole range of books

• Free e-training in visual literacy

• The option to attend an in-person training event about visual literacy and Book Clubs

We are looking for libraries, colleges, local authorities, charities, self-advocacy groups and any other group or organisation that might be interested in hosting a Book Club to get in touch. Use the form below to get in touch with no obligation to commit and someone will be in touch.

But don’t just take our word for it - watch our video below to learn what Book Clubs mean to the people in them.