Liverpool charity Ykids needs your help to create a human chain to transport over 15,000 books

Local charity Ykids are reaching out to their community to create a human chain to transport over 15,000 books from their shop Kingsley and Co in the Strand to their new premises on Stanley Road.

From 1pm to 2:30pm on Tuesday January 9^th, local schools, businesses and supporters will be gathering to form a line snaking through the shopping centre so that books can be passed hand to hand.

Kingsley and Co is a Victorian explorer themed children’s bookshop and literacy project set up by local charity Ykids, to promote reading for pleasure and the joy of story. The project has been running successfully for 3 years in the lower mall of the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, hosting children’s projects, family workshops and large community events such as the Great Dino Dig, Pirate Festival and Bootle Children’s Literary Festival.  The project seeks to get books into children’s hands and sells high quality preloved books for just £1.

As a part of the redevelopment of the Strand, their current premises will be demolished but Sefton Council have relocated them to the former NatWest Bank on Stanley Road.

‘This is a fantastic opportunity to expand our reach and offer more for our community as the new premises offers greater flexibility.’ said Claire Morgans, CEO of Ykids. ‘We are hugely grateful to Sefton Council for their support.’

The new shop is in the process of being refurbished and once complete will feature discovery rooms, moving bookcases and two themed classrooms as well as a cosy café.

‘We will have a whole new programme of exciting activities and events too’ shared Liz Jones – the project manager, ‘We would love to hear people’s ideas about what they would like to see in the new shop.’

Multiple local businesses are getting on board to support the move and refurbishment including Vinci Construction, Sovini and Duke Street Food and Drink Market whose Christmas Round up will enable the charity to purchase kitchen equipment. 

‘We don’t know what we are going to do’ said one regular customer ‘my daughter cried when she realised Kingsley was closing – but we can’t wait for the new one!’ 

The invitation to join in is open to everyone to join the human chain on January 9^th.

For more information about how you can get involved with the big move please contact clairemorgans@ykids.co.uk

Visit the Kid website here www.ykids.co.uk or Kingsley and Co here www.kingsleyandco.org.

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