Reading Force will continue to promote the benefits of shared reading among Army families, thanks to our grant of £20,000 towards core operating costs.
The Army Benevolent Fund is committed to supporting organisations that help children from Army families feel safe, supported, and understood.
For 15 years, Reading Force has been empowering families to strengthen bonds through shared reading. By providing free resources including books and guidance from expert regional Ambassadors, the charity seeks to support wellbeing by using shared reading as a tool to boost confidence, reduce stress, and strengthen communication within families.
For many service families, a significant part of life is deployment and separation, which can sometimes impact mental wellbeing. Reading Force’s focus on strengthening family bonds helps maintain strong family connection in times of deployment, training, or relocation. It is also freely available to service families who are together at home.
Hope is a military spouse and mum to three young boys: Harvey, Hunter, and Mason. Her family found Reading Force through pop-ups at military family events. Hope said:
“Reading Force always gives such great books and recommendations! Recently, we received this picture book from Reading Force. It is not only fun to have post for the children to open but also a book with a great underlying story.”
Alongside reading materials, Reading Force provides families with resources such as scrapbooks and journals, where children and parents can keep track of what they’re reading. Hope added:
“The scrapbooks are an added bonus! The boys really do love the book and will be finishing their scrapbooks. Reading Force really is great and there is no such thing as too many books.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, Army Benevolent Fund, added:
“We are delighted to be a longstanding funder of Reading Force and pleased to make another grant, of £20,000, towards its core operating costs. Reading Force provides families with thoughtful and important tools to help manage the ups and downs of service life, and the ABF is proud to continue its support.”