The council is considering cutting the funding for the StoryBus meaning the facility won’t be available at all. The council suggests that children can use other libraries around Stockport even though Davenport & Cale Green doesn’t have a library of its own. This cut to an important local service is currently out to consultation: StoryBus Consultation.
Elise Wilson, Labour’s candidate in Davenport & Cale Green, writes in support of retaining the StoryBus service.
“The StoryBus is a more than just a book borrowing facility for young children. It’s a specially adapted mobile library for children under 5 and their parents and carers offering vital support to young children, their families and their pre-schools and nurseries.
“The StoryBus is about reading for fun, encouraging children to read and look at books, hopefully starting a lifetime of loving to read. You don’t have to belong to a group or come with a school class. It’s packed with stories, tales and rhymes for babies and little children. There are toys and colouring sheets too.
“Inspired by what they’ve done on the StoryBus children are enthusiastic to get parents and carers to read with them at home, which promotes bonding and family time. Many nurseries and pre-Schools make special trips with the children in their care to the StoryBus every week not only for the benefits to the children’s reading but also to support children to learn to put their coats on, walk on the pavement, hold hands, cross the road and learn to sit calmly and listen. All of which are important for children to learn.
“Losing this facility would be a terrible shame for the children of Davenport & Cale Green as well as very many others. Many pre-Schools and nurseries don’t have the facility to offer library services to the children. Please take a minute to respond to the council’s consultation and tell them how important it is to keep this service. Thank you.”