I was recently invited to attend an event called ‘a reading symposium on the value of reading’ held at Kingston University on the 6th February. The event was organised by Karen Lipsedge, Associate Professor in English Literature and Pamela Osborne, Postdoctoral researcher from Kingston University. Karen provided a brief introduction and outlined the structure of the event. Alison Baverstock, Professor of Publishing and Director of the Kingston University Big Read gave the key note address on why reading matters. Alison’s background in the publishing industry and current career as an academic has enabled her to set up projects which have had far reaching impact on people’s lives. Alison talked briefly about two of these projects, Kingston Universities the Big Read and www.readingforce.org.uk, a shared reading initiative used to bring the families of armed forces personnel closer together. Although the idea behind the KU Big Read originated in the US, Kingston University has built and developed the idea into a successful outreach program of their own. The Big Read aims to make those coming to the university feel welcome before they arrive, and create links between them and the staff and students already there. On meeting their offer, each new student (undergraduate and postgraduate) receives a free copy of that year's special edition Kingston University Big Read title. The scheme has shown that creating a community through shared reading before students arrive, helps them feel welcome, settle in quickly and adjust to their new life as a student. The event continued with a short introduction by panel members about their work with shared reading and following this, an open discussion with the audience about the value of shared reading. Panel members included Dr Maurice Lipsedge, a retired consultant psychiatrist who spoke about his work leading a storytelling group at Southwark Day Care Centre for Asylum Seekers, London. Maurice spoke eloquently about the life of a refugee living in a state of limbo, and how shared reading tries to provide a sense of belonging and identity to a person living in a chaotic situation. Fiona Barnes from the Royal Borough of Kingston library services spoke about the reading schemes operating in the public library services. I spoke briefly about my role as reading facilitator volunteering with the Reader Organisation in Chelsea Library. Wendy Morris, spoke about her experience running Joel the Homeless reading group, in Kingston. Finally Karen Lipsedge spoke about her own Kingston University Reading Group which she uses to enhance all forms of equality and which helped Kingston University win the racial equality charter mark. Finally, the event finished with readings by Meg Jenson, Professor in English Language and Creative Writing at Kingston and India Hosten-Hughes. India is a writer and poet who explored what it means to be Black British Caribbean and dual heritage in her debut poetry collection, A Cup of Tea and a Tickle of Rum.