Lorraine Kelly has highlighted how reading can help people escape homelessness. The Scottish TV presenter recently met Queen Camilla to discuss how the simple practice of reading can help homeless people 'get back on their feet' during a visit to a shelter in south London.
Queen's Longstanding Commitment to Literacy
Camilla has been involved in a variety of reading and literacy projects throughout the years, including forming her Reading Room charity to help promote the benefits of reading. She has also supported the BBC's 500 Word creative writing competition for children.
ITV's Lorraine Kelly is also a self-proclaimed avid reader of books, and she had shared her mission of 'marrying' reading with the work of homelessness charities such as St Mungo's. She believes this can help people who are sleeping rough to gain opportunities through education.
The Visit to St Mungo's
During the recent visit, Camilla delivered 20 personally selected books to St Mungo's through its partnership with The Queen's Reading Room. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Lorraine said: 'I love reading, and this initiative is so fantastic. To combine two things I'm very passionate about, which is helping people who are homeless and getting people reading, the two just marry together so well.'
The TV host, who is a friend of St Mungo's, added: 'To have the Queen here has made all the difference in the world, it got everyone excited, got everyone enthused. She's genuinely passionate about it, she genuinely cares and knows her stuff, it was an absolute delight to have her here.'
Books and Escapism
During the Queen's visit, she delivered a royally supplied bookshelf which included a variety of titles such as Wuthering Heights, The Queen's Necklace, and I Capture the Castle. Camilla was greeted by residents, trustees, and support workers from St Mungo's, and received a radish from the shelter's garden, as well as a book on spirituality from a resident who is a self-published author.
Taking the time to speak in the activities room at St Mungo's south London accommodation, Camilla told the residents that reading 'is a wonderful way of escapism and taking [people] out of their lives and into another one.'
Impact on Residents
One former resident of the homelessness charity, Lee, who had come back to volunteer at St Mungo's, had an 'emotional' conversation with the Queen during her visit. Lee is now living independently. Speaking about the reading initiative at the accommodation, Lee said that 'having a book when you're homeless is an escape, like an oasis from the situation.'
Jessie Kaur, a support worker who has been with St Mungo's for seven years, also said: 'Books really help clients in their recovery journey from homelessness, it's a form of escapism, of healing from traumas they may have experienced. It provides the clients with a safe space. The support from QRR is amazing, because sometimes we're not able to afford to buy books from our service. Sometimes clients' ability to read improves, so we're really grateful for the support and meeting the Queen.'
St Mungo's service in south London accommodates 38 people and is one of the charity's 138 services that supports people who are at risk of homelessness or are already experiencing it.
