YOUNG carers can enjoy a bit of time with a good book – thanks to libraries in South Tyneside.

The bookshelves at the Young Carers Project, run by Carers Association in South Tyneside (Cast), were bolstered by £500 worth of new titles.

The library service has funded books for the centre in Beach Road, South Shields, every two years for the past eight years.

And when there were fears they would be unable to do so this year, the Friends of South Tyneside Libraries stepped in with a £250 donation.

Jackie Buckley, area librarian east, said: “Because of the responsibilities they have, it can be hard for young carers to get to the library. So once every two years, we go out and buy £500 worth of books for the centre, chosen by the children.

“We have a great day out and can see what the children like, and that helps us with what we get for the library as well.

“Because they are all different ages, from four to 18, it is really nice to see how they choose for each other. They have to be careful in their selections and they have a budget to stick to.”

The youngsters visited Waterstones in Sunderland and snapped up everything from Roald Dahl to a joke book by Harry Hill, picture books and classics like The Gruffalo.

Cast Macmillan young carers schools awareness co-ordinator, June Hindmarsh, said: “It is a fabulous resource. Children, who can’t get to the library, read the books when they are at our after-school clubs, and we also run it for lending.

“If they want a bit of time out when they are at the club, having some respite, they can sit and read a book. The children have asked if we could start a reading club, so we are looking at setting that up in partnership with the library.”

The books were handed over at a gathering of young carers and families at South Shields Central Library in Prince Georg Sqaure during Carers Week.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/a_novel_way_to_get_young_carers_reading_1_3515406