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Wales

The Welsh Government are supporting The Reading Agency to deliver Reading Well in all 22 library authorities in Wales.

Reading Well is developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected and SCL Cymru and is delivered though public libraries. It is funded by Welsh Government and Arts Council England. The scheme is developed and supported by leading health partners.

In Wales, in partnership with Books Council of Wales, the following schemes are available in all 22 Welsh library authorities, with most titles available in English and Welsh:

The books

Reading Well Books on Prescription for children

Reading Well Books on Prescription for children provides helpful reading to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. The books provide quality-assured information, stories and advice. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families

Reading Well Books on Prescription for teens

Reading Well for teens suggests recommended reading and digital resources to help teenagers (13-18) better understand their feelings, handle difficult experiences and boost confidence. The list is focused on supporting teens’ mental health and wellbeing in a post-pandemic context. Reading Well for teens launched in 2022 and is the newest list in the Reading Well programme.

Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health (for adults)

Reading Well for mental health provides helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions, or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs.

Reading Well Books on Prescription for dementia

The books provide information and advice for people living with dementia, support for living well, advice for relatives and carers, as well as fiction, memoir and photographic books used in reminiscence therapy. They are endorsed by health professionals and can all be found in the local library.

Welsh translation

We work with the Books Council of Wales to make most titles on the lists available in Welsh language. For information about the titles available visit our children, teens, mental health and dementia booklist pages.
As well as this, the user leaflets have been adapted with Welsh signposting and translated into the Welsh language. You can browse our Welsh and bilingual material in our resources bank.

Get involved

  • Sign up to our Reading Well newsletter for health professionals and librarians for regular updates
  • Find out more about the titles on the Reading Well Books on Prescription booklists that are available in Wales: children, teens, mental health and dementia
  • Libraries delivering Reading Well in Wales can download the delivery model
  • Health professionals can download prescriber guidelines
  • Get in touch with any questions about Reading Well in Wales

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