Latest News & Blogs
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Would you like to coordinate a Reading Force book club?
Not sure how to start a book club? No worries! Read on to find out more... It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time book club member, an avid reader, [...]
Q&A with Jen, Reading Force Ambassador in Northern Ireland
We’re delighted to welcome our brilliant new team member, Jen Robinson. In this Q&A Jen talks about her love of books and how they’ve kept her “company and connected”. Can you [...]
Sharing and exploring books during the MotMC
During the Month of the Military Child we sent children at Carnagill School a bundle of books to review. They have been AMAZING at telling us what they thought about the books [...]
Alison Baverstock on Dyslexia
I always feel I am onto something when related ideas come at me from different directions. Of late, this has been the case with dyslexia. Every child or young [...]
Why Running the London Marathon Was a Dream Come True
How running in aid of Reading Force made the journey even more meaningful for Becca Clark. For as long as I can remember, the idea of running the London [...]
The Story Behind Dande-Lion Diaries
We’re delighted to introduce Elise Norris, the creator of Dande-Lion books. Here she tells us why she wanted to publish personalised books for tri-service military children… Can you tell [...]
Q&A with award-winning children’s author Tom Palmer
Tom has worked with Reading Force for over ten years and we’re really happy that he is also a patron of Reading Force. He has written children’s books [...]
TELL US A STORY 2025 Memoir Writing Competition Adult Winners
We would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who entered our Memoir Writing Competition. We were awestruck by your entries, the experiences and lives you’ve lived, enjoyed, survived, [...]
An evening with Clive Myrie
"Separation is a fact of life for many military families, but stories and books offer a shared experience, no matter how far away loved ones might be. That's why I'm proud to [...]
Q&A with Terry, Reading Force Senior Ambassador
We're thrilled to welcome our fabulous new team member, Terry Stuart. Here Terry shares her military family experience, and why books are her “portable home.” You have experienced [...]
May Reading Force go from strength to strength
Elizabeth, Lady Kitson is the founder of the Federation of Army Wives. We were delighted to receive this from her – commenting on the value of Reading Force I would [...]
Reasons not to run a marathon by Alison Baverstock
Reading Force has two runners taking part in the 2026 event on behalf of our charity. Lizzie Jones, Operations Director of the Supacat Group (one of our sponsors) and living [...]
Reading Together: A Source of Calm and Connection
Emma, Former British Army Movement Controller and now military charity professional, discovered Reading Force during a particularly challenging time for her family. Having served in the Royal Logistic Corps between 2005 and [...]
Q & A with Eimear Boulter, Reading Force Resource & Social Media Coordinator
We’re really happy to announce that Eimear has joined the Reading Force team as Resource & Social Media Coordinator. Welcome Eimear! Here she shares some favourite books and how she first heard [...]
An evening of celebration and commemoration with Dame Penelope Keith & Janet Ellis
We are delighted to offer a really special evening of celebration and commemoration – in Aldershot, where Reading Force began. At the Prince Consort’s Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot from 6-7.30pm [...]
Shared Reading, Stronger Bonds: One Family’s Experience with Reading Force
For one Royal Navy veteran, Reading Force has “created a strong emotional connection to reading and to the military community” for his blended family. Jamie Phillips joined the Royal Navy [...]
“New to the area and thought this would be a good way to make friends.”
Feedback from a book club memberAre you a military spouse or partner who is on the move? Or has recently moved?* Join us to meet new friends, find out about your new [...]
“It helps me and my dad to stay connected by reading the same book.”
We really love hearing from young people and discovering how they have experienced Reading Force, so we were thrilled when Molly said she would share her story. Please give a warm [...]
Why memoir writing matters
In this blog founder and director of Reading Force, Alison Baverstock, recalls her personal experience in young adulthood of just how powerful getting a family story down on paper can be… [...]
Reading to children: the best part of the day or a chore?
A big welcome to our guest blogger Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at HarperCollins Children’s Books and Farshore. In this blog Alison talks about the decline in reading to children [...]
Reading Force welcomes Janet Ellis as patron
We are over the moon to welcome Janet Ellis - TV presenter, podcaster, and author - as our new Reading Force patron. In this blog Janet recalls the comfort of books [...]
From Battlefield to Bedtime Stories: A Veteran’s Reading Journey
Former Royal Air Force Chinook Pilot and Training Captain, Leon Fisher, served from 1999 until 2015, completing five tours in Afghanistan. His service included high-stakes roles such as being part of [...]
From Army Wife to Author: My Journey to Weebert’s World
We’re thrilled to welcome back Lorraine as a guest blogger! We love Weebert’s world and adventures and Lorraine’s amazing story which is hugely inspiring to all military spouses… For 27 years, [...]
Military families and retention in the Armed Forces
In response to world events there’s been increasing discussion about putting ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine. Reaction from the military community will likely be varied: trying to anticipate who will [...]