However, if you fancy a change from chowing on all that choc, why don’t you come along to the Dragon Making Workshop at the Chestnut Centre Library on Wednesday 20th April 2011.

This free event is for children aged 5 to 12 years and will run from 2.30 pm until 3.30 pm. There’s no need to book and better still, there will be a prize for the best dragons made in Kirklees ! See you soon …..

We thought we’d start the new year with a new competition, so if you fancy winning a copy of our latest ‘up for grabs’ book, read on for more details ….

 ”Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key” by Jack Gantos chronicles the adventures of a kid who’s so wired, he “sharpens his finger in the pencil sharpener and swallows his house key. His teachers never know what he’s going to do next …..”

Jacqueline Wilson describes the story as “Funny, sad and very moving”.

If you’d like to win a copy of the book, visit the ‘Our Favourite Reads’ page and leave a review of your favourite read last year.

Don’t forget to include the title and the author of your book and remember to tell everyone why you enjoyed it so much – and why they should read it too !!! 

The closing date is Thursday 31st March 2011 and the best review will win the prize. 

Good luck !

The Chestnut Centre Library and Information Centre would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year !

Yes, we know there’s a bit of time to go yet – but we just thought we’d do a quick post to let you know about the up and coming festivities at the Chestnut Centre Library (and in Huddersfield Town Centre) over the next few weeks !

Beginning with books (of course !), if you love sharing stories with your toddler, the Chestnut Centre Library has just added some lovely Christmas books to it’s usual collection of children’s picture books. Have a look at them next time you’re in the library and don’t forget to pick up your FREE Bookstart pack for young children if you haven’t already. Ask a member of library staff for details.

The Y O u T H ON THE HILL youth cafe’s are also going strong at the Chestnut Centre at the moment. Monday nights from 4 pm are for 8 – 14 year olds and Wednesday nights from 5.30 pm are for 11 – 16 year olds. There was lots of fun and laughter this Monday evening when the gang made delicious pizzas – and ate them afterwards of course !  I’m sure there’ll be lots of festive activities as Christmas draws nearer. If you’d like to join a youth cafe evening, contact Daneeka Simpson at Youth on the Hill on 01484 234273 to book a place.

Speaking of books (again), if you’re wondering what to do over the school Christmas holidays, there will be a ‘Christmas Storytime and Crafts’ event at the Chestnut Centre Library on Wednesday 22nd December from 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm. Come along and listen to an exciting Christmas tale, then decorate a bauble to take home for the Christmas tree.

Don’t forget that the Christmas Lights are being switched on in Huddersfield Town Centre on Thursday 18th November at 6.30 pm. The fun actually starts with the Pulse Roadshow at 4.30 pm in Nelson Mandela Corner (behind Huddersfield Library). The more eagle eyed of you may also have noticed that preparations for this year’s ‘Huddersfield on Ice’ event have begun. Building has already started on this year’s outdoor ice rink which will open on Thursday December 2 for four weeks

As if all this wasn’t enough, there’s also Huddersfield’s Festival of Light to look forward to when the whole town centre is set to come alight with an exciting mix of performances and attractions from the 2nd to the 5th of December.

So, that’s lots of festivities to look forward to and take part in over the coming weeks. We hope you have a great time, and look forward to seeing you at the Chestnut Centre Library very soon ….

We need young people between the ages of 8 and 16 years old to help us develop some interesting photographic images.

If you’d like to find out more, come along to the Chestnut Centre on Tuesday 26th October at 10.00 am and your photograph* could be seen throughout the Deighton and Brackenhall area !

*Remember that you will need a parent / carer’s permission for your photograph to be included in the project.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the “Space Hop” Summer Reading Challenge – we had a great time this year with lots of children completing the challenge and taking part in all our events. If you got your certificate and medal, I hope you’ve taken them into school to prove to your teacher just how much you enjoyed reading over the summer holidays !

Well, it’s finally time to announce the winner of our summer reads competition which closed on Wednesday.  (Unfortunately, we didn’t get as many entries as we’d hoped, but a big thank you to those who took part).

… and the lucky winner is …… Lucie MacGregor !

Well done Lucie. Your review of “Kiss” by Jacqueline Wilson was excellent and really conveyed how much you’d enjoyed the book. With any luck, your review will have inspired others to read it.

If you’d like to call into the Chestnut Centre Library from Tuesday 21st September onwards, your prize is waiting to be collected. Please just bring some form of ID with you so the staff know they are handing the prize to the right person. If this is not convenient, please email amanda.ambler@kirklees.gov.uk and we can work out some other way to get your prize to you. Thank you and congratulations again !

So that’s it folks ! It could have been you ! If you didn’t enter our summer reads competition, but you wish you had  - have a look at the “Our Favourite Reads” page for another exciting chance to win a prize !!!!!

Good luck !!!

Competition Time !

Hello everyone. Don’t forget you can still enter the competition on the “Our Favourite Reads” page of this blog.

The closing date for the competition has now been extended to Wednesday 15th September to give more of you time to participate !

All you have to do is leave an exciting review of your favourire summer read to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Lucie Macgregor has already left a super review of “Kiss” by Jacqueline Wilson which sounds like a really moving read ! Well done and thank you Lucie !

We look forward to seeing more reviews before the competition closes ….

Aged 13 – 24 ? Want to get involved and have a say in local issues ? Read on …

Youth on the Hill is a new project in the Deighton and Brackenhall area. It is sponsored by the vinvolved project and the DBI.

The purpose of the new Youth Forum is to give local youths like YOU a voice in the planning and decision making of activities and programs for the local community. The Youth Forum will become community ambassadors, actively engaging other young people in the Deighton and Brackenhall area, helping to identify local issues and ways to tackle them.

The Youth Forum provides the opportunity for YOU to improve your skills, confidence, knowledge and employability through voicing your opinions using projects, media sources and methods such as speaking to MP’s and local Councillors.

Alongside the Youth Forum, there is also the opportunity to complete some hours volunteering in a position that suits you. Through volunteering, you will have the opportunity to gain the V Award, a nationally recognised award certified by V Inspired.

Your community needs YOU !

We are currently looking into the following projects : Community Reporting, Land Regeneration, Youth Cafe and Inter-Generational Work, but are open to any other ideas YOU may have !

If you would like more information about the Youth Forum, please feel free to contact a member of the team listed below on 01484 551520 / 234234 or call into the Chestnut Centre Library and Information Centre. We’re waiting to hear from YOU …..

Daneeka Simpson : Youth Work Leader

Nick Francis : Youth Assistant

Daniel Alexis : Youth Assistant

Izabelle Kane : Youth Work Trainee

Thank you !

Competition Time !

Hello everyone.

Don’t forget about the competition on the “Our Favourite Reads” page of the blog.

All you have to do is leave an exciting review of your favourire summer read by the 1st September to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Lucie Macgregor has already left a super review of “Kiss” by Jacqueline Wilson which sounds like a really moving read ! Thank you Lucie – let’s hope some more reviews appear soon ….

5,4,3,2,1 …………. blast off !

The Space Hop starts this Saturday 10th July in all Kirklees Libraries – including the Chestnut Centre Library.

Read a book then ask a member of staff to join you up and receive your free fold out poster and moving image membership card.

Read five more books over the school summer holidays and collect activity sheets, stickers and a glow in the dark ‘Space Hop spinner’ prize as you go.

Then, just make your ‘lunar landing’ and complete the challenge to get your super duper certificate and medal. Remember to take your certificate into school after the holidays to show your teacher that you have taken part !

Don’t forget to ask the Chestnut staff about all the free Space Hop events that are happening in the Centre over the school summer holidays and have a look at the Space Hop website for more fun, games and information about your favourite books and authors.

You could also have a look at the Chestnut Centre facebook page and see how some people have already enjoyed getting into the Space Hop spirit by playing our Super Duper Rocket Ship Hoopla game at this year’s Deighton Carnival.

Have fun Space Hoppers !