BARNSLEY Musuems has partnered with a local book shop to combat social isolation across the festive period.
Foster’s Little Book Shop, on the Victorian Arcade, donated a number of books to local communities through the council’s ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Project’.
Through the scheme, Barnsley Museums has been hosting a variety of free events across the town centre to encourage people at high risk of social isolation to come together, take part in new activities and volunteering opportunities, and make new friends through the process.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “This project is bringing people together in many ways.
“Not only are people connecting and building relationships through events, workshops, and activities, our town centre businesses like Foster’s Little Book Shop and the Parkway Cinema are also coming together to show support for this amazing initiative, and there is still time to get involved.”
Ashleigh Crosswaite, from the shop, said: “This is such an amazing project and we’re so glad to have been part of it.
“Combating loneliness at this time of year is so important, and we hope the books we donated will help to provide much-needed entertainment as well as bringing people together to read, swap and share and discuss them, too.”