Member Article

Rio Tinto donation boosts children’s book festival

Rio Tinto has donated £1,500 to ensure the 30th Anniversary of the Northern Children’s Book Festival (NCBF) is a day to remember!

The Festival is the largest annual celebration of reading for young people in Europe. It’s organised by public libraries across the region and this year they’re hosting an anniversary Gala Day at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington on Saturday 23 November 2013.

NCBF is a registered charity and the Gala Day is the culmination of its two-week festival of children’s literature, which launched on 11 November, and aims to encourage youngsters to discover the joy of reading for pleasure.

To make sure the Festival’s 30th anniversary party is the most fun-packed yet, Rio Tinto has helped with the organising costs through its Legacy Fund.

Janice Hall, libraries development manager at Newcastle City Council, said: “It’s all about helping to inspire a love of reading by connecting children of all ages with some of the UK’s top writers and passing on the enjoyment of reading for fun.

“We are really looking forward to the Gala Day at Woodhorn. It’s a wonderful venue steeped in local history, and thanks to the extra support from Rio Tinto we have been able to put on an ambitious programme as we celebrate 30 years of NCBF.”

The Gala Day is a free event with lots of activities, including entertaining sessions with some of the best writers and illustrators in children’s publishing. The region’s library services are providing a variety of craft activity stalls and there will also be storytelling sessions from Creaky Knee stories, Seven Stories and local storyteller Don White.

Rio Tinto’s regional economic development assistant, Joanne Hannay, said: “The Northern Children’s Book Festival has become a wonderful regional tradition with an important goal.

“The Gala on Saturday promises to be a great day out for lots of families across South East Northumberland and the wider region. Rio Tinto is both proud and delighted to support the charity in this important anniversary year.”

Northumberland’s very own David Almond, whose first novel ‘Skellig’ won the Whitbread Children’s Award, Carnegie Medal and the Eleanor Farjeon Award 2013, is just one of many well-known authors appearing.

Other attractions include arts and crafts, drop-in storytelling sessions and face painting. Woodhorn’s Narrow Gauge Heritage Steam Railway will also be running.

To find out more go to http://www.ncbfgaladay.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Maughan, Contributor .