الوظيفة: مطلوب مشرف لقيادة مجموعة مشتركة من القراء باللغة العربية Recruiting: Lead Reader for Shared Reading Group Looking at Work in Arabic

Open Book is looking for a Lead Reader to facilitate Arabic language shared reading sessions that are both open to the public and closed (in support of refugee and migrant families in partnership with MOOL, Dumfries & Galloway Refugee Action www.mool.scot). The Lead Reader may also be asked to deliver several shared reading and creative writing sessions. All sessions will take place on-line on the Open Book Zoom platform. The new Lead Reader will be joining a strong community of approximately 75 Open Book Lead Readers.

About Open Book

Since March 2013 Open Book (www.openbookreading.com ) has run shared reading and creative writing sessions for adults. In our 2020/21 year, we’ll deliver c. 1400 sessions in over 70 locations – the islands off Shetland, to Stranraer, on Uist and Tiree, in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and in the Central Belt. We work in a number of sectors –  libraries, health care settings, with the elderly, refugees and migrants, community groups, prisons, libraries and other public settings and on Scottish islands. Stories and poems are read aloud then discussed in a relaxed, informal setting, with about one-third of the groups adding creative writing.  The majority of our groups read material written in English but we also have sessions run in Gaelic and Scots.

Applicant Requirements

The successful applicant will:

• be fluent in both Arabic and English;
• have a love of reading and books;
• have experience of delivering creative writing or other literature-focussed workshops;
• be asked to join the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme) and to provide two references (Open Book will meet the costs of PVG membership and process the application on behalf of the Lead Reader); and
• be available to attend a paid training session to take place within several  weeks of confirmation of appointment.

Role

The successful candidate will be contracted to deliver at least 6 shared reading workshops in the Open Book model across a five month period (beg May – end September 2021.) Two creative writing workshops may also be delivered to the same populations. For each population, the workshops will take place on the same days and at the same times each  month (i.e the first and third Wed of the month). The fee in respect of each of the six shared reading workshops (including preparation, delivery and post session feedback) is £100.  The fee for any shared reading+creative writing session (including preparation, delivery and post session feedback) is £175. Six required training hours  – including initial training in the model – will be funded at £25 per hour. 

Lead Readers are asked to support their groups to attend a literary event during the course of the project year. This can be attendance at a Festival event or an author visit (either on-line or in person). An additional fee of up to £75 (3 hours at £25 ph) will be available to  Lead Readers for events. 

Application Process

• Please submit a CV including experience in community workshop facilitation, any other experience you feel is relevant and details of any publications, together with a covering letter telling us a bit about your suitability for the role to miriam@openbookreading.com by 5pm on Friday 26 March. A short list of applicants will be invited for an interview over Zoom between the 29- 31 March. The successful applicant will be notified by 5pm on Friday 2 April and will be asked to attend an introductory training session before the end of April. Please direct any questions relating to the application to miriam@openbookreading.com.