FUNDING has been secured to stage a series of free events for children in Newquay throughout the summer holidays.

Clemo Books, and Newquay Library will host free author-led events following the Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant which is a major initiative to support booksellers inspire young people to enjoy reading.

Jaimie Poyner, the owner of Clemo Books said: “We are overjoyed to be recipients of the Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant and know it will provide lots of children and young people in Newquay with access to creative opportunities and help foster positive reading habits.”

The grant will enable Clemo Books and Newquay Library to host free author-led events which will take place across Newquay and provide engaging activities to children aged four to 16, acknowledging the economic burden many local families face during the school holidays.

Newquay Library believes the author led events will be a “wonderful way” for families to engage with their services.

Joanne Carter, the library manager at Newquay Library, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Clemo Books on this exciting project.

“By bringing together the strengths of both the library and an independent bookshop, we’re creating more opportunities for children and young people to discover the joy of reading.

“We’re especially pleased to be able to offer free, engaging events for families over the summer holidays.”

The Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant is to combat the fact that rates of reading for pleasure among children and young people are at a 20-year low. The grant is part of Penguin’s commitment to the UK government’s National Year of Reading 2026 which hopes to reverse the UK’s decline in reading for pleasure rates.

Clemo Books and Newquay Library will get together to plan events and hope to announce the line-up of free activities in July.