A COLLEGE has been awarded more than £230,000 to bring storytelling to life in scores of libraries.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough College has secured the two-year Big Lottery grant of £236,146 for its Community Animators project, which will provide storytelling sessions for parents and children in 13 community libraries across the borough.

The college has been working in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland libraries, Future Regeneration Of Grangetown (Frog) and other community groups to deliver the Story Sack workshops.

Three children's storytellers have been appointed to help parents tell stories to children, and families will be given the chance to design and make their own story sacks. The project will also arrange free transport to and from the libraries for the sessions.

The college, which has helped manage the project, will be on hand to offer guidance on further education so activities can be followed up with free courses for any parents who would like to join.

Gary Groom, principal of Redcar and Cleveland College, said: "This is a fine example of a college working with voluntary agencies to serve the people of deprived communities.

"We realised that people who might not want to go into traditional learning environments do feel much more comfortable using the facilities of their local library.

"By managing this project, we are serving our local community, assisting voluntary sector partners and offering lone parents and disadvantaged communities pathways into education and training for themselves. The impact of the story sessions is tremendous. Parents and children will learn together and relate better. Education and pleasure will be inextricably linked."

The programme was launched this week during the school's half-term break.

It will be followed by six-week programmes, organised by community groups, such as Frog and Whale Hill Community Association, with free buses included.

Other voluntary organisations are invited to join the scheme.

For more information, contact your local community group or the library children's officer, Vicky Jewitt, on 01642-444315.