The official launch event will take place on Thursday 30 July.
A brand-new Children’s Book Donation Station is set to launch at Coopers Square Shopping Centre this July, creating a permanent community space where families can donate and discover pre-loved children’s books, helping to inspire a love of reading for generations to come.
The official launch event will take place on Thursday 30 July from 11am until 2pm, inviting families to celebrate with a range of free activities including cyanotype bookmark making, the chance to meet beloved children’s story characters, and of course, the opportunity to donate children’s books that are ready for a new home.
The initiative has been created by Imaginarium Creations as part of a National Lottery-funded programme and forms a lasting legacy from the free creative workshops delivered at Coopers Square earlier this year. Those workshops brought families together through creativity and storytelling, and the new donation station will ensure that the spirit of community continues long after the workshops have ended.
Located within the shopping centre, the Children’s Book Donation Station will provide an easy way for families to pass on books their children have outgrown while giving others the opportunity to discover new stories at no cost.
The project reflects Coopers Square’s ongoing commitment to becoming more than just a place to shop, creating opportunities for local people to connect, learn and support one another.
Baljit Kooner, Centre Manager at Coopers Square, said “we’re incredibly proud to be launching the Children’s Book Donation Station”.
It represents everything we want Coopers Square to be, not just a shopping destination but a welcoming community hub where families can come together and initiatives like this can make a genuine difference.
Reading has the power to spark imagination, build confidence and create lifelong memories. By giving pre-loved books a second life, we’re helping ensure even more children can experience that magic while also encouraging our community to share, recycle and support one another.
The launch event is free to attend and visitors are encouraged to bring along good-quality children’s books to donate.
Iveta Rocane, spokesperson for Imaginarium Creations CIC, added:
Thanks to National Lottery funding, we’ve been able to deliver a series of free creative workshops that have brought families together through music, storytelling and imagination, while also running a swap shop for children’s clothes, toys and books.
The Children’s Book Donation Station is a natural next step, providing a permanent resource that will continue to benefit the community long after the workshops have finished. We hope it becomes a place that people return to time and time again.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The Children’s Book Donation Station launch is just one part of an exciting summer at Coopers Square, with the centre set to unveil its Summer Play Series. Taking place on Thursday 23 July, Thursday 6 August and Thursday 20 August, the free programme will bring themed family experiences, creative workshops and interactive entertainment to the centre, giving local families even more reasons to visit throughout the school holidays. Full event details will be revealed soon.
Visit www.cooperssqaure.co.uk for more information.