Newport Live is delighted to announce the launch of Lively Lenders, an exciting new initiative designed to help children and families access inclusive sports equipment free of charge through their local library.
Launching as a pilot programme at Tredegar House Library during the week commencing Monday 26 October, Lively Lenders has been developed through close collaboration between Newport Live and Newport Libraries to make sport and physical activity more accessible for families across Newport.
The scheme enables families to borrow specially designed Lively Lenders activity packs, packed with sports equipment and activity ideas that encourage children to get active, learn new skills and enjoy physical activity at home or in their local community.
Suitable for children aged 4 to 11 years, the packs include equipment for a range of sports, including:
- Football
- Rugby
- Athletics
- Boccia
All equipment and activity guidance is included, allowing families to enjoy the packs at no cost.
Through a dedicated booking system at Tredegar House Library, families will be able to borrow a Lively Lenders pack for up to three weeks at a time before returning it for another family to enjoy.
The initiative aims to reduce barriers to participation by providing access to equipment that some families may not otherwise have available, while also encouraging children to discover new sports and develop positive lifelong habits around physical activity.
Ellen Phillips, Community Sport & Physical Activity Development Officer at Newport Live, said:
"We are incredibly excited to launch the Lively Lenders pilot in partnership with Tredegar House Library. We know that having access to equipment can make a huge difference to a child's opportunity to be active, and this initiative helps remove some of those barriers.
"By providing free, inclusive sports packs that families can borrow and use together, we hope to inspire more children to enjoy physical activity, try new sports and build confidence through movement and play."
The pilot programme will provide valuable insight into how families engage with the packs and will help shape future opportunities to expand the initiative across other library locations in Newport.
By bringing together the power of libraries and community sport, Lively Lenders represents an innovative approach to supporting children's health, wellbeing and physical activity levels, ensuring more young people have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of being active.
Families interested in borrowing a Lively Lenders pack should contact Tredegar House Library for booking information from the week commencing 26 October.
