HUMAN LIBRARY PROVIDES OPEN ‘BOOKS’ FOR MUIR LIVING RESIDENTS
INDEPENDENT Living residents have been enjoying a ‘Human Library’ to help them learn more about discrimination faced by others.
Residents at Tweedsmuir in Chester checked out two ‘human books’ from the city’s Storyhouse, who visited the Muir Living scheme to share life experiences of prejudice.
The residents were able to ask questions to both volunteers, who gave them insights into how their lifestyles or choices had affected them in the eyes of family, friends and society.
“I enjoyed learning everything,” Tweedsmuir resident, Maureen Riley said.
“The two ‘books’ were terrific. It is nice for people to come and share their experiences.
“Expressing feelings is very important.”
The Human Library helps people understand life experiences of others, allowing questions that may otherwise be viewed as taboo or difficult to ask.
The project is working in conjunction with Chester Storyhouse, and Nicola Haigh, Storyhouse Community Manager (pictured left) said: “The concept is all about others who have been labelled or labelled themselves, to smash perceptions and stereotyping.
“Events like this support Muir residents and older people to discover more about the world around them, meet new people and enjoy new activities.”
Residents were joined by Human ‘books’ Bethan Grimes and Michael Marlow who were able to explain their discrimination they’d faced in their lives.
Bethan said: “They could relate to my experiences of being a carer and it was nice for them to share their own stories and experiences of this too.”
Michael added: “Residents were very receptive and that was very enjoyable.
“Nobody held back from asking questions and it was nice to answer them.”
To learn more about how to access Human Library ‘books’ and those available from Chester’s Storyhouse, email: nicola@storyhouse.com