Latest News & Blogs
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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 [...]
The interactive Deployment Rollercoaster resource
Forces Children Scotland are delighted to share new tailored digital support to help children and young people overcome unique deployment challenges. Find out more in this blog… Deployment can sometimes bring [...]
We are thrilled Rhian Tracey’s third mystery adventure set in Bletchley Park at the start of World War II, has just come out!
In this special guest blog, Rhian reveals her close to home inspiration for the story… My great-aunt Audrey revealed her career as a code-breaker one Sunday lunchtime, in a pub in Wales, [...]
Feedback on the ‘Writing a military memoir’ day hosted by Reading Force and the National Army Museum
Hosted Saturday 8th February 2025, by Alison Baverstock I guess you know a conference programme is working well when the speakers arrive early, reference each other in their own presentations, and then [...]
Bringing Veterans and their Spouses Together Through Reading: The Story of VOS Book Club
In a bid to foster community and connection, Reading Force is partnering with veteran organisations across the country to launch book clubs, forging new friendships through the shared love of reading. One [...]
Spreading Festive Cheer: Submarine Families Receive Special Christmas Parcels
We were thrilled to partner up with the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) in their marvellous mission to deliver 52 special Christmas parcels to families with a loved one in [...]
Join us for a military memoir writing workshop: Saturday 8th February, at the National Army Museum
Have you started to write a memoir about your military life? Or have you thought about writing a memoir? If so, this day is for you! In this blog author and Reading [...]
Q & A with Laura Watson, Reading Force Ambassador in Northern Ireland
Laura joined Reading Force in early 2023 and is already well known in Northern Ireland for getting the community reading together! She is regularly out and about at events and meeting veterans [...]
Notes on living overseas and setting up a book club…
When the founder of Reading Force, Alison Baverstock, visited Cyprus in the summer of 2023 she gave several talks at the Akrotiri Hive. In the audience was Sarah, who pricked up her [...]
Q & A with Nicola Hill, Reading Force Book Club Ambassador
Nicola has been our Book Club Ambassador since April 2022. Her role has since expanded to include sending our teen journals, scrapbooks and books to Reading Force families around the world. Nicola [...]
Scotty’s Little Soldiers
Reading Force is pleased to have teamed up with Scotty’s Little Soldiers to make sure bereaved military children know they are warmly invited to receive Reading Force books and resources. In [...]
Tom Palmer visits Catterick!
The Reading Force Team worked with Carnagill Primary School to organise a very special visit from award winning author, Tom Palmer. In this blog Sarah Bradshaw, English & Service Pupil Lead at [...]
THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE – Announcing an opportunity to consider the practicalities of writing a memoir – for anyone involved with the military
THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE Saturday 20th July, The Rifles Museum, Romsey Road, Winchester, 1-4pm If you have had a connection with the military, whether [...]