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Gloucestershire Libraries have launched Saturday Clubs for children as part of a new initiative called Family Focus.
This new offer is available to families on selected Saturdays all year round and is open to all Gloucestershire children and their parents or carers.
The first sessions launched in selected libraries in October 2023, and has run regularly since.
The project includes a range of free creative activities, workshops and opportunities for children of all ages and their families, with a strong focus on Early Years, hard to reach communities and non-traditional library users.
Family Focus plays a key part in the recent award of Gloucestershire Libraries becoming a National Portfolio Organisation, with funding for three years. Sessions delivered so far include dance workshops specifically inclusive for neurodiverse children, Malaysian magical horse making, yoga and mindfulness, drama workshops and much more, all under a magical and fantasy theme from October to December 2023. January to March 2024 will be all about Animals, with mosaic building, music making, nature crafts and so much more.
Hundreds of individual sessions are available in libraries across the county, with 31 county libraries having a designated session per month.
This non-digital project focuses on increasing creativity, dexterity, learning, literacy, and interaction with others, helping to combat some of the effects left on children and families since 2020.
Free tickets are available via the Library catalogue and released throughout the year for individual library events. To check for listings and to book when released, go to gloucestershire.spydus.co.uk
To keep up to date with themes and sessions coming to a library near you, follow Gloucestershire Libraries on social media, or the library website.
Cllr Dave Norman, cabinet member for libraries, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which aims to encourage families to spend quality time together and reduce isolation, as well as provide cultural and creative opportunities to communities across the whole of Gloucestershire.
“The clubs are completely free to attend and I would encourage all families to take a look at what’s coming up in their local library.”
