Last week I enjoyed a very lovely catch up at my local (Nottingham) John lewis. Walking through the store, I saw many of the gorgeous products that have been created especially to celebrate its 150 year anniversary. Its a huge celebration nationally as well as locally. London has its very own mock up of the first store, as well as a roof top garden at the John Lewis on Oxford Street. See the website for more details of upcoming events and details.
There are a couple of things I wanted to let you in on today. A storytelling competition and some instore storytelling sessions. Both of these are being run nationally, but the story competition is being judged locally in each of the stores as is the timings of the story sessions. It’s again all part of the 150 yr celebrations, and the Bringing Skills To Life (Barnardo’s) program. Partners working at John Lewis branches will be working with local schools and children’s authors on storytelling workshops in branch. The national storytelling competition, named – My Splendid Story. Each store will display some of the entries on its community art wall in September.
Sounds like fun, and a rewarding project this summer doesn’t it? Or something for a whole class at school to be involved in. There are some great prices to be won too. One of three iPad mini’s and £150 worth of books for the primary school, at each store. Here is how to enter in a little more detail :
As part of our support for Barnardo’s, we’d love to hear your children’s stories. Children aged 3 – 11 can take part – they’ll need to use plenty of imagination and creativity to tell their stories using words and drawings on their very own storyboard. Download an entry form, sign in or register and upload it by Friday 19 September 2014. From June 21 (excluding Clearance) we will he hosting a storytelling garden situated in the Toys every Saturday and Sunday until the end of the Summer holidays.
I’d suggest taking a photograph of the story and then uploading it as the easiest solution. If this isn’t possible, I do know that the Nottingham branch will be having a box to collect the entries too.
I can’t wait to visit the store during one of the storing reading sessions. Each session will be on a Saturday and Sunday. They have invited local authors, including Deborah White, my very good friend, author and blogger Becky Goddard Hill, who writes the UK parenting blog BabyBudgeting as well as their own partners to join in.
Customers will be asked to donate to Barnardo’s which will benefit a local Barnardo’s project in Nottingham called the Butterfly project.
Barnardo’s supports vulnerable children by teaching their parents five key activities they can do with their child from birth to help them tothrive; Respond, Cuddle, Relax, Play, Talk – all skills that are intrinsic to storytelling.
Throughout our history we’ve forged strong links with the communities in which we trade. That’s why as part of our 150th anniversary, we want to use the power of storytelling in our shops and in schools, to raise money to help Barnardo’s support the children who need it most.
A very worthwhile cause, good luck to anyone who enters, and see you at the story telling!
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