A FOOLs Game

The Friends of Okehampton Library (FOOLS) are a small group of volunteers who raise funds to support the local library. Friends Groups work closely with Library Supervisors and Libraries Unlimited (LU), the charity that runs Devon and Torbay libraries, to ensure communities benefit from high quality library services.

We are active in many ways. We:

• actively promote our local library and the services, events and activities it offers.

• help to raise money for the library.

• hold events and activities for people of all ages.

• represent the views of its members, when necessary, on relevant issues in relation to the library.

• enhance the library by providing practical assistance.

• develop ways of encouraging wider use and membership of the library.

• Friends Groups are an integral part of LU as they work with the vision, values and purposes of the organisation and that of our local library.

We have recently funded a reading den for the children’s area kindly made by the local charity Men in Sheds. Some events we have funded include: a World Book Day Tea Party, a wildlife talk as part of Science Week, a Lego gadget workshop for Summer Reading Challenge, science kits as a draw prize for Summer Reading Challenge, books to give away as a promotion to join the library and a variety of author events.

In September, this year, we will be organising our very first book festival: Okebookfest. It will run from 9th – 16th September. There will be author events, a family craft event and a creative writing workshop. Watch this space for more information!

If you are interested in joining our friendly group please visit Okehampton Library (4 North Street, EX20 1AR; 01837 52805) and talk to Carole Cornwall, the Library Supervisor.

Janet Coopey, FOOLs volunteer

Feeding Fun

The Easter holidays are upon us again and households all around are echoing with those age-old cries from children: ‘I’m bored’ and ‘I’m hungry’!

Thank goodness for the Okehampton Make Lunch Club which was set up to relieve some of the pressure on low-income parents by entertaining and feeding their offspring during the school holidays.

Every Wednesday children are invited to come along to the Okehampton Baptist Church Lower Hall in Fore Street from

Making Tracks

In January West Devon Council announced the fantastic tidings that it had won a bid for £13.4 million to develop a new transport hub and railway station in Okehampton.

Proposed to be called Okehampton Parkway, the station will be sited on the eastern edge of the town, with easy accessibility to the A30.

Especially thrilled are the Dartmoor Railway Association who were an

11am to 1.30pm where a friendly team of volunteers will lead them in games and crafts - and give them a hot lunch. And the best bit about it is that it’s completely free.

The sessions are aimed at primary school aged kids, but pre-school (accompanied by a parent or guardian) and college ages are welcome too.

For more information or to book, email: okehamptonmakelunchclub@gmail.com; tel: 07410 968112 integral part of the team who worked tirelessly on the triumphant project to reopen Okehampton Station and the Dartmoor Line service to Exeter back in November 2021.

‘We are delighted with this news,’ says DRA chair Sue Baxter. ‘The Parkway Station will increase the usefulness of the Dartmoor Line service to people from the wider area.

‘In particular it will be much easier for the increasing population to the east of Okehampton to reach it on foot or by cycle, further reducing the local carbon footprint and improving air quality. DRA look forward to continuing to work with NR, GWR and other stakeholders to help deliver another successful project.’