Wyndham Park Community Group in Yeovil helps to run a number of sessions out of the community hub and book vouchers from LiveWest will be used to buy new books for intergenerational reading at their parent toddler group where members of their over 50s community group will read once a month to smaller children.
The popular Wyndham Park Community Group book sharing library will also be restocked with new books to support the group’s members enthusiasm for reading.
Vyvyenne Burt from Wyndham Park Community Group said: “We hope the intergenerational reading group will further reduce social isolation for those who live away from home as well as those children of service families whose parents might be away from home in service. New books for our book sharing library will also support families who may have limited budgets who can share new stories with each other. Thank you so much LiveWest.”
LiveWest, the largest housing provider in the South West has donated over £1, 500 worth of book tokens for community groups across Somerset.
Shona Stone, Community Connector for LiveWest, said: “Books are a fantastic way to feed children’s imaginations. We understand the importance of children being able to read and wanted to play a part in addressing the issue where lack of funding can be a barrier to some children getting new books.”
“As a leading housing association, LiveWest can make a real difference to families and the community who have been hit hard by the impact of lockdowns, rising living costs and impacts to education.
“Giving back to our communities is a vital part of the work we do and we are absolutely delighted to be able to provide the book tokens in our communities where we have homes which will make a positive difference to the children.”
LiveWest has also supported community group Purple Elephant in Frome Besom in Taunton with tokens for new books.
LiveWest have a long-standing partnership with Besom, Taunton, a group which provides crisis boxes, furniture, white goods and volunteering support to those who need it across Wellington and Taunton. The £200 book vouchers will be used to purchase basic cookery books to give out with their crisis boxes.
With an increase in living costs LiveWest has stepped in to help customers in crisis by issuing more than 1,400 crisis and hardship grants to households across the South West, totaling more than £300,000 as well as £112,000 in grants for community spaces and digital inclusion.
Helen Thomas Grants Officer from LiveWest added: “Through a combined approach, including our Tenancy Sustainment team, working with community organisations and other partners and agencies, we are able to help customers ensure they are accessing longer term support.”
During the Covid19 pandemic the housing provider also issued £32,000 to schools to allow them to buy much-needed IT equipment and donated refurbished laptops.