World Book Day Events
 Children and families listening to author Sam Gayton.
What a whirl World Book Day has been, with fantastic events across Medway! From puppet shows in Chatham to the Medway Spaceman in Twydall!
Child-Friendly Medway hosted World Book Day celebrations in partnership with Medway Libraries and funded externally to address community safety.
Gillingham Community Hub and Library:
Over 350 children, young people and families joined us in Gillingham Community Hub and Library on Saturday, 24 February to celebrate World Book Day with face painting, slime-making workshops, character meet and greets from Alice in Wonderland, Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain America, arts and crafts activities such as make your own bookmark, and author talks with Sam Gayton.
Children and families shared with us that they felt the library was ‘safe’, ‘warm and clean’, ‘welcoming’ and ‘a good family space’, with some saying that this was their first visit to the library.
Chatham Community Hub and Library:
On Saturday, 2 March, Child-Friendly Medway joined the team at Chatham Community Hub and Library to celebrate World Book Day.
With over 450 attendees, children and families could take part in activities, including make your own bookmark and write your own story, as well as hearing from author Holly Webb (with the chance to get your free book signed!).
Families could also enjoy shows by our Child-Friendly Medway Puppet Theatre, face painting and character meet and greets from Alice in Wonderland and Captain America!
Children shared with us on the day that they thought the event was fun and they enjoyed visiting the library, commenting that their favourite part of the day was ‘Holly Webb’s talk and getting to meet/talk to her’ and the ‘puppet show’.
Across Medway, a further 14 talks and arts and crafts activities took place at Medway libraries, community hubs and schools, celebrating World Book Day at:
- Cuxton, with author Sam Sedgman.
- Rochester, with author Sam Sedgman.
- Rainham, with poet A F Harrold.
- Strood, with poet A F Harrold.
- Luton, with author Sam Gayton.
- Lordswood, with author Sam Gayton.
- Hempstead, with the Medway Spaceman
- Twydall, with the Medway Spaceman
- Grain, with Illustrator Gary Parsons.
- Hoo, with Illustrator Gary Parsons.
- Walderslade Hook Meadow, with author Sam Gayton.
- Wigmore, with author Sam Gayton
- Walderslade Village, with author Ellie Irving.
- Gillingham, with author Ellie Irving.
Child-Friendly Medway worked with Medway Libraries to host these free and fun family events across Medway to improve feelings of safety in our community. We also gave out free hi-vis packs to children attending these events to improve safety.
Girls' Just Wanna' Have Fun
Women and girls talking to two female officers from Kent Police about safety items.
On Friday, 8 March, Child-Friendly Medway were joined by over 230 women and girls for our ‘Girls' Just Wanna’ Have Fun’ event, raising awareness of women and girls safety and celebrating International Women’s Day.
Upon arrival, guests were invited to take a photo with our ‘Inspiration Wall’, which included quotes from female icons, such as Michele Obama and Virginia Woolf. Many girls spent time here reading the words of these icons, opening up conversations with their families.
The event was supported by local female business owners, providing activities and entertainment for the attendees, who could enjoy friendship bracelet making, face painting, hair braiding, photo opportunities with our flower wall, glitter wall and magic mirror, dancing, and singing. There was a buffet and a very popular mocktail bar, and lots of fun photos were taken to commemorate the evening! The Rochester Corn Exchange was filled with music, dancing, and lots of girl power!
With women and girls’ safety being a main focus of this event, Child-Friendly Medway were joined by two female officers from Kent Police, who spoke to attendees about keeping safe.
One officer shared that “We were able to have great interactions with the girls and their parents attending. Lots of safety advice and information was given as well as gaining some contacts from local schools”.
Information on how to stay safe on social media platforms and how to use the personal safety app ‘Holly Guard’ was shared with attendees, as well as free safety equipment such as card protectors, key protectors, purse cables and hi-vis waist bags.
On parent shared that ‘it was lovely to let the girls go around on their own in a safe place’, with a sibling commenting that ‘my little sisters have really enjoyed this, and it feels very safe for them’.
This event was funded externally by Medway Safer Streets to provide activities and events for women and girls in supporting and raising awareness of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) campaign.
If you have any photos from our ‘Girls' Just Wanna’ Have Fun’ celebration that you would like to share with us, please tag @childfriendlymedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Child-Friendly Medway Puppet Theatre
 Performer from Pretending People Theatre with two puppets from our Child-Friendly Medway Puppet Theatre Show
In February Child-Friendly Medway launched their Child-Friendly Medway Puppet Theatre, and has partnered with Pretending People Theatre to bring you its first production of the story of Dr Ego and his quest to find the meaning of life!
Dr Ego meets lots of different characters that teach him that being the ‘cleverest’ isn’t the most important thing, and that we all have different skills and strengths to support each other when we work together!
Our Child-Friendly Medway Puppet Theatre Show debuted at The Rochester Guildhall Museum, ME1 1PY, on Tuesday, 6 February, where we were joined by over 40 families! Children enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of the puppets up close after the show.
Our Puppet Theatre has also visited events such as the Chatham Community Hub and Library World Book Day Celebration. Keep an eye on our social media for upcoming puppet appearances!
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