InterAct Stroke Support

InterAct Stroke Support, previously known as the InterAct Reading Service,[1] is a charity registered with the Charity Commission Of England and Wales.[2] Its aim is to support the rehabilitation of stroke survivors through a live interactive reading service.[3] The charity was formed in 2000 by the theatre director Caroline Smith.[4] It won a King's Fund GSK Impact Award in 2005,[5] later winning a Guardian Charity Award in 2009.[6]

It began work in a number of London hospitals, now 11, and also works across the UK including Brighton[7] Cardiff, Glasgow and Northern Ireland.[8] Professional actors read to and converse with stroke patients with the aim of lifting mood and providing mental stimulation.[9][10] The charity provide a remote service for any discharged stroke survivors in their homes.[11]

Research

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Several studies have been carried out pointing to the benefits of the service. The Department of Public Health Sciences at King's College London conducted an evaluation of the service carried out by Professor Charles Wolfe with Christopher McKevitt and Maria Higgins [12]

References

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  1. ^ "INTERACT STROKE SUPPORT - Charity 1080046". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  2. ^ "Charity Entry". Charity Commission of England & Wales. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ Leeming, Ciara (2012-12-17). "How actors play a role in stroke rehabilitation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  4. ^ "STAGE: Caroline nurses a keen ambition". The Bolton News. September 17, 1999.
  5. ^ Fund, King's. "Winners of 2005 King's Fund GSK Impact Awards". King's Fund.
  6. ^ Gentleman, Amelia (2009-12-09). "InterAct Reading Service". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  7. ^ "Brighton work".
  8. ^ "Ciarán Hinds and Adrian Dunbar among actors supporting stroke patients". BBC News. 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  9. ^ Billington, Michael (2024-07-22). "'As good as playing to a packed theatre': the actors who perform for stroke survivors". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  10. ^ "How actors are playing their part in patient recovery at Whiteabbey Hospital". 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  11. ^ "InterAct Stroke Support: InterAct at Home | Stroke Association". www.stroke.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  12. ^ Higgins, M.; McKevitt, C.; Wolfe, C D A. (2005). "Evaluatuion of Reading Service". Disability and Rehabilitation. 27 (22): 1391–1398. doi:10.1080/09638280500164727. PMID 16321921.