The Queen recently met the Scottish presenter at a crisis center in south London.
Lorraine Kelly has highlighted how reading can help people escape homelessness.(Photo: Justin Tallis/PA Wire)
Lorraine Kelly met Queen Camilla to discuss how the simple exercise of reading can help homeless people get “back on their feet”. The Scottish TV presenter recently showed the Queen the work being done at a shelter in south London.
Camilla has been involved in a number of different reading and literacy projects over the years, including setting up her Reading Room charity to help promote the benefits of reading. She has also supported the BBC’s 500 Word competition for creative writing for children.
ITV’s Lorraine Kelly is also a self-confessed avid reader of books and had shared her mission to “marry” reading with work with homelessness charities such as St Mungo’s. She said this could help rough sleepers gain opportunities through education.
In the most recent visit, Camilla provided 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.
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“Combining two things I’m very passionate about, which is helping people who are homeless and getting people to read, the two just marry so well.”
The TV host, who is a friend of St. Mungo’s, added: “Having the Queen here has made all the difference in the world, it got everyone excited, got everyone excited. She’s genuinely passionate about it, she genuinely cares and knows her stuff, it was an absolute pleasure to have her here.”
During the Queen’s visit, she delivered a royally delivered bookcase which contained a number of titles such as Wuthering Heights, The Queen’s Necklace and I Capture the Castle.
Camilla was met by residents, trustees and support staff from St. Mungos 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.
When Camilla took the time to speak in the activity room in St. Mungo’s accommodation in south London, Camilla told residents that reading “is a wonderful way of escapism and taking (people) out of their lives and into another.”
A former resident of homelessness charityLee, who had returned to volunteer at St. Mungos, had an “emotional” conversation with the Queen during her visit. Lee now lives 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 at St Mungo’s for seven years, also said: “Books really help clients in their recovery journey from homelessness, it’s a form of escapism, for healing from trauma they may have experienced.
“It gives customers a safe space. The support from QRR is great because sometimes we can’t afford to buy books from our service.
“Sometimes clients’ ability to read improves so we are 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 supporting people who are at risk of homelessness or already experiencing it.
