Sandbach library is set to benefit from a share of a £10,000 government grant aimed at combatting social isolation amongst the town's readers.

The grant awarded to Cheshire East Council will fund library staff across the borough to be on hand to contact anyone who wants to discuss their favourite books or authors.

The Reading Friends project is a national scheme, which is overseen by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport and run by The Reading Agency.

As well as discussing books and authors, people can also request a weekly chat to talk about anything from what's in the news to what they have seen on TV.

The scheme is free to all residents and there is no need for people to be a library member. Residents simply need to call or email their local library to arrange a time when they can discuss their area of interest with a librarian.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities, said: "This is excellent news for residents. While we are delighted to see that there is a roadmap now to take us out of lockdown, it will be a while yet until libraries can open once again to the public.

"Initiatives like the Reading Friends project are perfect for people, who not only might be lonely, but who perhaps also love the joy of sharing their reading experiences with others. The first thing that so many of us want to do after reading something is to tell people about it. This project enables that in a very simple, straightforward way."

Anyone signing up to the Reading Friends project before the end of March will also receive a free book and reading journal. For more information about the Reading Friends project and other schemes that the council's library service offers, please visit the council website.

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