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An epic adventure to the Arctic Circle

2020-03-11T14:30:37+00:00

Alison Allmand-Smith is about to embark on an epic adventure to the Arctic Circle to fundraise for Reading Force – WOW! We’d like to say a very BIG thank you to Alison! In this blog she talks about why she’s going on this survival expedition and why Reading Force is close to her heart…   Hello, on 6th March I’m setting off to Kiruna in the Arctic Circle to raise money for Reading Force. The expedition has been organised by a group of former Elite British and Swedish soldiers, headed up by Military Cross holder Steve Heaney of adventure and survival [...]

An epic adventure to the Arctic Circle 2020-03-11T14:30:37+00:00

Booking the chance to say thank you

2020-02-03T10:01:33+00:00

Running a charity, and ensuring there is enough money to keep going, is much harder than it looks.   Charities rely on donations. Company budgets and funds that give charitable grants are increasingly under pressure. Plus there is a natural reluctance for any organisation to find a charity over-dependent on their contribution, and hence – should they be unable to continue funding – to become the reason someone loses their job. Most company donors feel comfortable if they see a range of sponsors listed – but finding new sources of sponsorship can be really difficult. In the current climate, with so [...]

Booking the chance to say thank you 2020-02-03T10:01:33+00:00

Top tips for military life

2020-01-21T14:36:27+00:00

Julie Boyle’s husband is leaving the Army this year, having served for 22 years. Here, as our guest blogger, Julie looks back on life as a military wife and mother, reflects and shares her top tips for managing the ups and downs of military life. Looking back on my military life… I met Owen almost eight years ago, I knew then life would be a rollercoaster! I was right too. Living over two hours apart meant we saw each other at weekends and when Owen was on leave, when other army commitments didn’t interfere of course. It was tricky and at [...]

Top tips for military life 2020-01-21T14:36:27+00:00

Thinking of doing Reading Force?

2019-09-23T18:01:18+00:00

We’re very pleased to welcome guest blogger Daniela Makin, who generously shares her family’s experience of doing Reading Force below…. Our Reading Force... by the Makins Hello! We are the Makins, a book-loving and creative family of one grown-up, one pretend grown-up and two small children, Raphael (age 4) and Corin (age 3). My husband, Seth, is an army doctor working in Suffolk, where we have lived since last September. I am a qualified secondary teacher, currently on sabbatical to enjoy my children's last year at home before they go to school. Reading is very important to us. We have read [...]

Thinking of doing Reading Force? 2019-09-23T18:01:18+00:00

Happy New Year and New Reading

2019-05-03T15:52:14+00:00

Founder of Reading Force, Alison Baverstock, reflects on her long-lasting Forces friendships, the next generation, and a new year’s resolution… We spent New Year with family friends in France. The original friendship, between us and a couple we met when we were both posted by the Army to Wiltshire, has been maintained by the next generation and we were there with their eldest child, herself a member of the Forces, her friends and our daughter. Everyone in the group of ten had a link with the Military, either currently serving or having grown up as the child of a Serviceperson – [...]

Happy New Year and New Reading 2019-05-03T15:52:14+00:00

Christmas for Forces families… and being miles apart

2018-12-20T14:37:33+00:00

We send books to Forces families all year round to enjoy sharing, whether a family is together at home or separated by deployment or training. But with Christmas fast approaching, we’re especially thinking about families who will have a loved one away from home on Christmas day and through the holiday season. Over this festive period, we’re aiming to send around 1,000 books to help families just that little bit. Here, four mums share their situations and thoughts on Christmas in the military and how books and sharing stories across the miles can help... Sian and four year old daughter Amelie [...]

Christmas for Forces families… and being miles apart 2018-12-20T14:37:33+00:00

‘But what do I do with the scrapbook?’ One family’s crafting journey and top tips for scrapbooking

2018-11-21T12:06:42+00:00

Julie Boyle found out about Reading Force from a post shared on a military wives Facebook page, when her daughter Chloe was not yet two. “I looked and thought that sounds brilliant.” She ordered a scrapbook and book through the Reading Force website. Since then the family have completed three scrapbooks and take great pleasure in crafting them. Here, Julie shares her Reading Force experience and top tips for scrapbooking… I was so excited waiting for our first scrapbook to arrive and to see Chloe’s face when she received the new book! Chloe has enjoyed reading since she was tiny so [...]

‘But what do I do with the scrapbook?’ One family’s crafting journey and top tips for scrapbooking 2018-11-21T12:06:42+00:00

“This book is a great way to escape from your own real life drama.”

2018-07-13T08:09:32+00:00

We’re delighted to welcome children’s author S.P. Moss as our first guest blogger of 2017! In Susan's books, The Bother in Burmeon and Trouble in Teutonia, Billy slips back in time to the mid-20th century to have adventures with his RAF pilot granddad. These exciting and fast-paced stories were inspired by Susan’s father’s RAF life (she’s even included a glossary of RAF slang in both books).

“This book is a great way to escape from your own real life drama.” 2018-07-13T08:09:32+00:00

“We switched the TV off and sat together reading the book…”

2018-06-04T11:20:23+00:00

We’re delighted to welcome children’s author S.P. Moss as our first guest blogger of 2017! In Susan's books, The Bother in Burmeon and Trouble in Teutonia, Billy slips back in time to the mid-20th century to have adventures with his RAF pilot granddad. These exciting and fast-paced stories were inspired by Susan’s father’s RAF life (she’s even included a glossary of RAF slang in both books).

“We switched the TV off and sat together reading the book…” 2018-06-04T11:20:23+00:00

“Best father/daughter experiences we’ve done together.”

2018-06-04T11:19:59+00:00

We’re delighted to welcome children’s author S.P. Moss as our first guest blogger of 2017! In Susan's books, The Bother in Burmeon and Trouble in Teutonia, Billy slips back in time to the mid-20th century to have adventures with his RAF pilot granddad. These exciting and fast-paced stories were inspired by Susan’s father’s RAF life (she’s even included a glossary of RAF slang in both books).

“Best father/daughter experiences we’ve done together.” 2018-06-04T11:19:59+00:00