For the Love of Reading

Child-friendly Medway has launched 'For the Love of Reading' to encourage children and young people to develop a passion for books.

There will be events, activities, book trails and more.

For the Love of reading logo. Graphic with a book and rainbows.

Free books

To help make sure that children and young people have books in their homes, the Child-friendly Medway team will be giving out free books once a month. These will be at events or as part of a book trail hidden in public places for them to find, take home and read.

The books might be found in playgrounds, at shopping centres, on benches or in places young people visit, creating a fun and exciting trail to inspire a love of reading.

There are so many benefits to reading books and having books at home

Books can:

  • help us to develop our own ideas and personalities
  • introduce us to new words and subjects
  • improve our mental health by allowing us to unwind
  • grow relationships between those who read together.
Medway Council employee opening children's book

Events and activities

We'll also be organising events and activities linked to some of the books, including film screenings and author talks.

Soft play and story corner at The Pentagon Shopping Centre

Free soft play and storytelling activities for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers at the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham. 

Children and young people can enjoy the one-hour soft play activity and enjoy storytelling.

Session details

Session times run from 10am to 10.55am and 11am to 11.55am on:

  • Wednesday 22 January
  • Wednesday 5 February.

Location: The Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham (in the old Wilko's unit).

To reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Pop-up community story time

Free story time and craft events running across Medway for a range of ages, featuring books read by the Child-friendly Medway team.

 Gun Lane Wellbeing Centre

  • date: Wednesday 15 January
  • time: 10am to 11am
  • location: Gun Lane Wellbeing Centre, Gun Lane, ME2 4UW
  • ages: 0 to 5 years.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Oaklands Wellbeing Centre

  • date: Thursday 16 January
  • time: 10am to 11am
  • location: Oaklands Wellbeing Centre, Weeds Wood Rd, ME5 0QS
  • ages: 0 to 5 years.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Wayfield Children and Family Hub

  • date: Thursday 16 January
  • time: 1.30pm to 2.30pm
  • location: Wayfield Children and Family Hub, Wayfield Road, Chatham, ME5 0HH
  • ages: 0 to 5 years.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Gillingham Children and Family Hub

  • date: Monday 20 January
  • time: 1pm to 2pm
  • location: Gillingham Children and Family Hub, Woodlands Road, ME7 2BX
  • ages: 0 to 5 years.

For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.

Mother holding young son in ball pit

Get involved

If you find one of our books, take a photo of where you discovered it or of you reading it. You can then tag Child-friendly Medway on social media.

You can also follow us on social media for the latest updates on our events and activities, as well as how to get tickets.

Photograph of a girl underneath a tree with a book.