Packed Summer of Fun Across Reading

Teddy Bears' Picnic

PLAY Days, a teddy bears’ picnic in the park, messy play and a special rhymetime in the Abbey Ruins, are among the fun range of activities the Council is laying on for kids over the summer holidays.

Children’s Centres across the borough are hosting events to keep youngsters occupied through the summer break. The centres will be open throughout the summer holiday offering activities from 25th July to 10th September 2018. The holiday programme across Reading’s Children’s Centres includes messy play, make & take crafts, bumps & babies, wet play, rhymetimes and storytimes. There is a teddy bears’ picnic at Prospect Park to look forward to on 10th August. Details of all the summer programmes at Reading’s Children’s Centres can be found at: http://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk. Reading Play run three holiday clubs in Reading, at Katesgrove (Waterloo Meadows), Caversham (The Hill) and South Reading (Green Park). Over the summer, the Reading Play team has some exciting fun days on offer at the Outpost (located next to Rivermead) including favourites like Owen’s Animals – animal handling sessions, crazy golf, falconry, circus skills, archery, laser guns, soft play and more. Activities run every day from Monday 30th July until Friday 17th August. Later in the summer holiday they will be at Prospect Park, from 24th until 31st t August. To find out more about upcoming activities visit: www.readingplay.co.uk Reading Library Service is holding a special rhymetime in the Abbey Ruins on Friday 27th July. Staff from Reading Libraries and the ever popular Teddies Music Club, are hosting the special rhymetime in the newly opened Abbey Ruins, between 10am and 12pm, with singing starting at 10.30am. As well as offering their ever popular library rhymetimes and storytimes, Reading Libraries are also calling for children to sign up to read six books this summer as part of Mischief Makers – the Beano themed Summer Reading Challenge 2018. Children are challenged to borrow and read at least six books over the holidays, and are rewarded for each book read. www.reading.gov.uk/libraries Reading Museum is hosting events throughout the summer at the main museum and the newly renovated Abbey Gateway and the Abbey Ruins. There are a number of exciting craft sessions, including crown making, kite making and a bug club craft workshop for families. Other activities include a medieval animal trail and a number of family friendly tours. The museum also offer free story time sessions for tots every Wednesday at 10.30am. Visit www.readingmuseum.org.uk/museum/whats-on

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Children’s Services, said:

“We know it can be difficult to find affordable ways to keep kids occupied through the long summer break but we hope our programme of events this summer offers something for everyone. “The Council’s Children’s Centres offer a fantastic range of activities for families and don’t forget to check out what’s on at Reading Museum, Reading Library Service and Reading Play, as they all have a great range of activities for kids this summer. Whilst the weather so nice, why not also take advantage of all the beautiful parks and open spaces across the borough.” For families looking to get out and about, there are many beautiful parks and gardens in Reading with play areas, a paddling pool and space to play games and not forgetting all the activities on offer at Reading’s RSL Centres at Meadway, Palmer Park and South Reading; including swim lessons, pool inflatable sessions, RFC Soccer Sessions and lots more. Visit www.reading.gov.uk/parks and www.readingleisure.co.uk for more information.

ENDS