THE loneliness and stigma experienced by millions living with an invisible health condition will be put in the spotlight at Swindon Library.

Root Experience is publishing a powerful novel about what life is like for those with conditions ranging from anxiety to autism and diabetes to chronic fatigue syndrome – all of which have symptoms that are not easily identifiable to others.

The Brighton-based arts charity aims to inspire more people to speak out, while also encouraging others to listen compassionately and is giving away all 8,000 printed copies at eight free events across the south of the country.

Hidden Stories On Tour will be at Swindon Library on Saturday, June 8, from 10am-3pm, where visitors will be able to collect free copies of the book, meet some of the contributors, join in conversations and find out more about the project.

There will also be a photography exhibition by Sarah Hickson and interactive games that guide self-exploration.

Artistic director at Root Experience Simon Magnus said: “When taking our initial draft to focus groups, we found that people were able to empathise with characters which bore no specific relation to their own conditions, simply because their emotional realities were so similar regardless of their diagnosis."

The Hidden Stories project was made possible thanks to a £45,150 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, which it received after winning ITV’s The People’s Projects last summer.

Wellbeing centres, GP surgeries and workplaces can contact rachel@rootexperience.org to secure copies.

A free digital version is also available at hiddenstories.co.uk