The essence of Young Cultural Creators The YCC programme and how it works Children’s authors talk about their involvement with YCC Ideas and practical resources for YCC themed programmes Organisations taking part in YCC YCC Newsletter

Home Page > SeaBritain 2005 >> Resources > Models and Partnerships > YCC and families

Click here to print the text from this section



YCC and SeaBritain 2005

YCC Family Days

Plan a YCC Family Day - again making the most of library partnership with a local museum, archive centre or gallery.

Here is a suggested checklist for a Family Day run by a partnership of library and museum/archives/other inspiration venue:

•  Partners plan and check out aims together: these will include shared aim of encouraging families to use and enjoy the spaces, resources and services offered by each partner

•  Decide on a theme for the day, linked to a particular book, or several titles tying in with the theme. For example: Library services in the North East of England recently partnered with the Discovery Science Museum in Newcastle to run a family day of events based on the book ‘Mortal Engines' by Philip Reeve.

•  Plan your programme so that it will work for all age groups: you could have some events which appeal to all ages, and some designed for a specific age group.

•  Invite authors, illustrators, storytellers, and other creative artists to make the dynamic link between the book/s and the inspiration venue and its contents. Make the most too of the interpretative and storytelling skills of library, museum and archives staff.

•  Think how each session will inspire reading and creative ideas – and also how it will build parents' and young people's knowledge and confidence in using the resources and spaces you are promoting.

•  Provide refreshments

•  Publicise the day as widely as possible – through partner venues, schools, community centres, shops, health centres. Think about what might attract people to come, and then emphasise this – that it's free? that it's fun? Any unique selling points?

•  Decide how you will evaluate the success of the day – maybe a simple questionnaire with open questions: ‘What was the best thing for you about the day? What did your child or children like best about the day? What did you learn from the day? How did you find out about the day? What attracted you? What would make a day like this better?

image of someone walking along rocks by the sea