Public libraries across Flintshire are celebrating the Winter of Wellbeing campaign with three days of online national events this March (15-17).

Schools and colleges across the country are invited to tune in to join a fantastic line-up of authors and ambassadors, who’ll be shining a light on the power of reading to help us cope in tough times and to connect us to others, through music, poetry, chat and debate.

The Winter of Wellbeing is the Welsh Government’s cross-sector seasonal campaign which has been working to help children and young people recover from the pandemic, and has seen thousands across the country welcomed into local libraries to discover all the magic inside, including – between the bookshelves – everything from yoga to mindful gardening, Lego clubs to creative writing workshops.

Events will take place online with award-winning Welsh authors discussing and debating how books can be your best friend, kindness and courage, Welsh myths and legends, the art of illustration, the power of listening and the magic of poetry.

The range of topics hopes to captivate children and young people and help to showcase how reading and libraries can help them recover from the pandemic by connecting them to new ideas, new friends and others in their community.

The Flintshire programme includes:

Hosted by Aura Libraries and The Reading Agency - Books are your best mates: A fabulous opportunity to hear from award-winning author Manon Steffan Ros about how reading can inspire, affect and keep us company through hard or changing times. Casi Wyn, Bardd Plant Cymru, will be in the chair to welcome and lead on a Q&A session, where you can ask Manon about her work.

Two Welsh language events will also be hosted by Anglesey and Conwy libraries and more from Denbighshire, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen and Abergavenny libraries.

Nicola Pitman, chair of the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru and library lead who has been working in partnership with The Reading Agency on the campaign, said: “We hope these national Winter of Wellbeing author events will encourage and attract the young people of Wales to our libraries, to read and engage with all the activities and entertainment inside.

"Your local library has so much to offer, it is a local hub for the community where young people can meet and take part."

You can check out all the events taking place at the Winter of Wellbeing’s website www.readingagency.org.uk/winterofwellbeing. All events are free, just register via Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-reading-agency-30868713945.