DEVON Community Foundation has awarded The Turning Tides Project, a grant of £1,500 from the Clare Milne Trust to fund a new project called Page Turners.

Page Turners is a bi-weekly book club held on the second and fourth Thursday evening of the month, where stories will be read and shared through multi-sensory engagement, so they can be accessed by those with “learning disability” or “autism” labels who are often unable to access traditional or contemporary stories.

Page Turners will also provide one person with a “learning disability” who reads well, to support others to learn to, or improve their reading.

This grant will ensure that The Turning Tides Project can continue with its vital work in creating equal access to music, the arts and life for those with “learning disability” and “autism” labels.

Taking a Social Model approach, The Turning Tides Project identifies and develops people’s skills, strengths and aspirations and uses them to develop open and inclusive community projects.

This creates opportunities for a demographic that is often marginalised and disabled not by their difference, but by society. Being unable to access stories that are central to our culture disables.

The Turning Tides Project has an active group in Crediton and it also runs the Crediton Station Tea Rooms, which is where the current bi-weekly book club sessions are being held from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Tom Wood from The Turning Tides Project said: “This grant will make a huge difference to people living in the local area. Thank you Devon Community Foundation.”

Martha Wilkinson, CEO of DCF added: “We are delighted to be able to support this fantastic group. It is groups like this working on the frontline that are so essential to our communities. It’s what makes DCF so important to ensure that together with donors and local groups we can build strong and vibrant communities for everyone in Devon, both now and for the future.”

If you would like to help Devon Community Foundation support groups like The Turning Tides Project make a really difference to local people in need or if you’re a group seeking funding then just get in touch at: www.devoncf.com .

If you would like to join Page Turners, inquire about the possibility of having private reading lessons or have any questions, please contact Tom by emailing: [email protected] or visit the website: www.theturningtidesproject.org.uk/page_turners .