A Kensington Christmas Story

“About 10 years ago, I woke up in Chelsea and Westminster on the day the book trolley came round and I felt the kindness of the trolley pusher and the generous thought and careful organisation that had resulted in my being greatly cheered by a book.” – Shirley Conran (Author)

 

 

On November 21st, Gyles Brandreth, trustee of The Queen’s Reading Room, and Vicki Perrin, CEO of The Queen’s Reading Room joined representatives from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to unveil our first-ever book donation initiative – a giant book stack in the middle of Kensington High Street! 

Running for five weeks, ‘A Kensington Christmas Story: Read, Celebrate and Share the Joy of Reading’ in partnership with Opportunity Kensington, will serve as a book donation drop-off point, benefitting the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital library,  a volunteer led organisation and registered charity which has supported the work of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Trust Foundation for the last thirty years.

The Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Library’s in-house library is open daily for patients, staff and visitors to browse, whilst its Library Trolley service visits the wards regularly to allow patients and staff to borrow and return books/audiobooks, and request specific books or special items such as large-print books or books in other languages. 

‘A Kensington Christmas Story’ is the first-ever grassroots outreach project to be carried out by The Queen’s Reading Room since the charity was established in February 2023 and we very much hope that the campaign will be the first of many other book donation initiatives in different areas of the UK. 

Wrapped in traditional festive colours and trims, the striking giant book installation sits beside the flower stand at St Mary Abbott’s Church, on the corner where Kensington High Street and Kensington Church Street meet. 

The impressive display has been specially fitted with a large Christmas present box, where visitors to the attraction can post book donations, both old and new. Visitors are also encouraged to ‘pay it forward’ by leaving supportive messages for the next reader. Donated books will then be distributed to the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital through The Queen’s Reading Room network.

 

 

“I was recently a patient in the hospital and made regular use of the mobile Library service – it was an absolute lifeline. I’m recovered now and have come to the hospital to donate some books to this excellent service.” – Former patient

 

This thought-provoking campaign is designed to highlight the transformative effect that reading can have, and will showcase how literature can unite, inspire and bring people together, during the festive period. 

The link between reading and social connection is something The Queen’s Reading Room is committed to better understanding, having published our first neuroscientific study into the link between reading fiction and wellness earlier this year. 

The pioneering study, which used portable brain scans and galvanic skin testing on participants as they read excerpts from novels, proved that just 5 minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by almost 20%, improve concentration and focus by as much as 11%, and enable readers to feel better connected to each other.

 

 

Vicki Perrin, the CEO of The Queen’s Reading Room, said: 

“As a charity, we understand that reading is an enormously precious vehicle for social connection, so we are delighted to be partnering with Opportunity Kensington to launch our first-ever book donation campaign, benefitting the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital’s library and trolley service. 

There’s something so uniquely exciting about picking up a book you know somebody else has cherished, but above all else, we really hope that many people will be inspired to stop by and donate a book they have really connected with, to help spread the joy of reading this Christmas.”

 

Hilary O’Neill, Chair of Trustees at the Friends of Westminster and Chelsea Hospital, said:

 “This is a wonderful initiative from The Queen’s Reading Room charity, and we feel privileged to benefit from this campaign. 

We believe in the power of books to foster social connection in hospitals and relieve boredom and loneliness for patients who may spend days or weeks on the ward. 

The donations we receive thanks to the ‘Kensington Christmas Story’ project will be a huge boost to our library service, and we are so grateful to The Queen’s Reading Room  for its support.”

 

Separately from The Queen’s Reading Room

Local businesses across Kensington High Street will also be involved in helping to champion reading across the festive period and will host their own separate pop-up book clubs, book breakfasts and brunches, reading and book signing sessions. A host of other book donation points and engaging activities not linked to The Queen’s Reading Room are also planned for this vibrant shopping area over the festive period.

 

About our key partner, Opportunity Kensington 

Opportunity Kensington is the Business Improvement District representing 400 businesses centred around Kensington High Street. Formalised in 2022, this not-for-profit organisation works to deliver a programme of services and initiatives that help secure the long-term success of the area to benefit the whole community – businesses, employees, visitors, residents and investors. 

The Opportunity Kensington Business Improvement District stretches east to Kensington Palace and the junction with Kensington Court and west to Edwardes Square. To the north, it encompasses a portion of Kensington Church Street to the junction of Campden Grove, and to the south, it reaches Earls Walk, Scarsdale Place, and Kensington Court Place. For more information, please visit https://www.opportunitykensington.co.uk/

 

 

The Queen’s Reading Room wishes to extend its thanks to Opportunity Kensington and its member organisations for partnering with us on this heartfelt and exciting project. 

For media inquiries please contact kirstie.logan-townshend@thequeensreadingroom.co.uk