Have your say on a mixed housing and community development scheme in Turlin Moor North

Local residents are being invited to give their views on a project to explore options for providing much-needed housing, affordable homes and improved community facilities. 

The initial proposals could eventually create up to 400 new homes, including more than 40% affordable housing, on council-owned land close to Blandford Road. Part of an existing open space at Turlin Moor recreation ground has been identified as a site for the potential scheme.

People can complete an online consultation form at www.poole.gov.uk/turlinmoornorth, which will be available up until 23 June 2017.

The Development Brief and paper copies of the survey will also be available at the café, children’s centre, nurseries, schools, sports pavilion, youth centre, Derek Orchard House, Willow View, St Gabriel’s Church in Turlin Moor plus Hamworthy Library. In addition they will also be available at the Civic Centre Reception.

Nick Perrins, Planning Policy and Implementation Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “We will use the responses from this six-week consultation, to help shape proposals for Turlin Moor North. So it’s really important for local people to get involved as their opinions do count in shaping their neighbourhood for the future."

Feedback from the public consultation will be used to prioritise the community benefits that the scheme could support should it go ahead.

If the scheme is progressed, an outline planning application could be submitted in Autumn 2017 with the first homes being built in 2019.

Ofsted praise for Poole schools

Bradley Simmons, Ofsted Regional Director for the South West, has sent a letter to the Leader of the Council Cllr Janet Walton, congratulating the Borough of Poole on the much improved school results this year.

Mr Simmons said: “This more consistent and sustained picture of improving achievement in Poole is testament to your hard work and that of your teams. You have been resolute in addressing the issues we raised in our inspection of your school improvement service published last year.”

In his letter, Mr Simmons said Poole schools had performed above national levels in almost every area.

At Key Stage 1, Poole schools performed above the national level in reading, writing, mathematics and phonics. At Key Stage 2, performance for the combined attainment measure of reading, writing and mathematics, was also above the national level.

Secondary schools in Poole also built on last year’s improvement. The proportion of Poole pupils passing GCSEs in English and mathematics at grade C or better was 67.6%, against a figure of 62.8% for England.

He added: “There is much stronger evidence than in the past of all stakeholders working together, of mutual challenge and accountability.”

The improvement in performance is a result of a strong partnership between the council and local schools, along with support from Poole School’s Alliance, Poole Teaching Schools Alliance, and the new teaching school Sigma.

Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Capital Projects, Borough of Poole, said “We are very pleased to receive congratulations from Ofsted. It is good to know that such hard work and dedication from pupils and teachers, led by heads and governors, along with everyone involved in education in Poole, has been recognised.

However, we still have much more to do. We want all our schools to be good or outstanding, and we want to be well above the national average at all key stages. We will continue to work hard with all our schools and partners to fulfil the aspirations and ambitions we have for our children and young people here in Poole.”

Poole Libraries are making homework heavenly

For those children struggling with spelling, muddling along in maths, hating history, or simply looking for a great environment to learn, there is somewhere to go.

Available during school term times, Poole Libraries free homework clubs are for all children, but specifically those aged 8-14 years old.

The clubs, located at libraries across the borough, offer a safe and friendly environment to work in, with help-on-hand from library staff to access books and find information. There is free use of computers, with internet access, as well as free photocopies and print-outs, and high quality online resources linked directly from the Borough of Poole website.
All Online resources can be accessed any time, from home or school and include fantastic sites such as BBC Bitesize Revision, Britannica Spotlights, and Oxford Reference.

To kick off the Autumn term, there will be a special Homework Club promotion beginning on 26^th September, with Homework Club showcases happening in all libraries. Parents, pupils and teachers can come along to find out what local Homework Clubs can offer, as well as enjoying fun quizzes and refreshments.  All showcase events are listed in the Sep- Dec 'What's On' brochure, available now in libraries and online.

Homework Clubs are not just for kids either. Any adults who have a few hours a week to spare, are invited to volunteer to run a club. Helping young people have a bright future, and making a positive impact on children’s lives, volunteers will be helping children with homework questions, finding resources, and enjoying homework. More information about volunteering, and the Homework Club, can be found at all local libraries, and on the Borough of Poole website. 

Homework Club Showcases :
Monday 26^th September: Branksome, 3.45- 4.45pm Canford Cliffs, 4.30-5.30pm Creekmoor, 4.30-5.30pm Oakdale, 3.30-4.30pm Parkstone, 3.30- 4.45pm

Tuesday 27^th September: Poole Central, 3.30-5pm

Wednesday 28^th September: Hamworthy, 3- 4.30pm, Rossmore, 3- 4.30pm

Thursday 29^th September: Broadstone, 3- 4.30pm, Canford Heath, 3- 4.30pm

Summer fun at Poole Park Funday

A spectacular family Funday is being held in Poole’s much-loved Victorian park on Thursday 4 August.

Local residents are invited to join in the fun from 10am to 3pm by the cricket pitch as Poole Park takes centre stage with a host of activities for all the family to enjoy. The fun packed day, which is supporting the £2.7 million bid for Heritage Lottery Funding, includes lots of free activities with everything from ferret racing and circus skills workshops to sports and under 5’s soft play. Bouncy castles, climbing wall and face painting will also be available for a small charge.

This will also be the final opportunity for visitors to have their say on the proposed plans for the park, particularly around the play areas. This feedback will help shape the final designs of the park before they are revealed later this year.

Martin Whitchurch, Project Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “This event is not only a great way to spend some fun family time together in a beautiful setting, but marks the end of the public consultation on the proposed plans for the park. So it is important that park users and visitors are given this final opportunity to help shape our bid to secure £2.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Councillor John Rampton, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces, Borough of Poole, said: “Poole Park is a wonderful facility which everyone can enjoy and we are really excited about the plans for its future. It's also a great example of people working together to help secure vital funds to preserve and enhance this popular and historic park.”

Business Opportunity for Local Parent in Dorset

 

Stagecoach Theatre Arts is a highly regarded network of performing arts schools with a proven record of delivering quality dance, drama and singing lessons to youngsters worldwide.

 

Over the years Stagecoach has provided a springboard for some of the UK's leading young talent and has had the privilege of watching thousands of kids grow in confidence and ability.

They have a thriving network of more than 320 fun and friendly franchised performing arts schools at safe and convenient locations in the UK, and a growing presence in ten other countries.

 

On offer are brilliant kids’ parties, children’s holiday activities involving musical theatre and drama workshops, and their very own talent agency for children and young performers. 

 

The goal is to inspire and enrich young people through the performing arts and introduce them to new opportunities in a happy, safe and secure environment. 

 

The franchise to a local stagecoach theatre school is up for sale and is an ideal business opportunity for a parent or ex dancer/singer to work around family commitments.  The ready-to-go business has established teachers and students so your business will provide an income straight away.

 

Call 07435 974901 for more details.

 

 

Free parking for Christmas shoppers

Free parking and the return of the popular Park and Ride service will make Christmas shopping even easier in Poole this festive season.

Residents and visitors shopping in Poole can enjoy free parking in all town centre car parks, courtesy of Borough of Poole, on the run-up to Christmas:

* every Sunday between 10am and 6pm from Sunday 22 November until Sunday 20 December 2015.
* Thursday nights between 6pm and 9pm from Thursday 26 November until Thursday 17 December.

In addition there will be free parking on Monday evening, 21 December between 6pm and 9pm to help shoppers buy any last minute Christmas presents.

People shopping in Broadstone, Ashley Road, Penn Hill, Ashley Cross and Canford Cliffs can also benefit from free parking in district car parks from noon until 6pm on the three Saturdays before Christmas - 5, 12 and 19 December.

Alternatively, for those who want to beat the rush and miss the queues, the council's Park and Ride service will be running from Creekmoor every Saturday from 28 November until Christmas.

Damory Buses will be providing super low floor buses making it even easier for wheelchair users and parents with buggies to get onboard.

The service will leave the Creekmoor Park and Ride site every 15 minutes from 8am until 6pm on 28 November, 5, 12 and 19 December.

The short 10 minute trip to town costs just £1.50 for an adult return, and accompanied children can travel for just 50 pence return. Holders of an English National bus pass can use the service free of charge.

The service drops passengers within easy reach of the shops at the entrance to Falkland Square, where they can then board the bus back to Creekmoor every 15 minutes from 8.15am until 6.15pm.

Councillor Ian Potter, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Borough of Poole, said: "Despite significant pressures on council budgets we are delighted to be able to offer people who shop in Poole these opportunities. Poole's shopping centres are busy and vibrant all year but the atmosphere around Christmas time is fantastic. We are sure shoppers and businesses will welcome the benefits that this offer provides."

Ed Wills, Operations Director, Go South Coast, added: "We are delighted to be working once again with the Borough of Poole to help deliver Christmas shoppers hassle free into Poole this Christmas. The Park and Ride site has proven to be extremely popular over the years and we hope this year will be the most successful ever."

For more information please visit www.boroughofpoole.com/christmasandnewyear.

Charity Christmas Cards

 

Seven Springs Studios in Dorchester are opening their doors for a charity photoshoot day to raise money for Children In Need.

 

Would you like the chance to have some lovely Christmas photos taken and to give out Christmas cards with a personal touch?

 

The studio will photograph whoever or whatever you would like to be on your Christmas card this year. The studio take relaxed photos of you, your family and even your pet and they can print the cards for you. They are asking for a donation to Children In Need so please join the event and give generously to a great cause.

 

The shoot is on 22nd November from 10-6 in Dorchester.

 

Join the event here 

Speak out to stop scams

Poole residents are being asked to expose scams and help stop other people from falling prey to clever cons which are aimed at stealing their hard earned cash.

The national Scams Awareness Month, launched on 1 July, highlights how scams continue to flourish when people stay silent. On average less than 5% of victims report scams to the authorities. Poole Trading Standards Officers are encouraging residents to report suspicious activities, get advice if they think they have been conned and to warn others to help stop the scams from spreading.

Scams can come in many forms, from high pressure doorstep sellers to fraudulent online investment offers. Fraudsters may impersonate banks to collect their victim’s bank details, or by bogus companies offering computer services. Online scams include fake job adverts and offers for goods and services that do not exist, while mail scams may ask victims to pay fees in order to claim their winnings from a prize draw they have not even entered. Poole Trading Standards are aware of over 300 local residents who have responded to scam mail during the last few years.

The month long awareness campaign is asking people to keep two things in mind when they receive an unsolicited approach or when they are looking for goods or services: don’t be rushed and don’t be hushed. People should take their time to make a decision and get their facts together before parting with their money or personal information, and speak out when they think they have spotted a scam.

Peter Haikin, Regulatory Services Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “Scams thrive on the silence of victims. Fraudsters know that even if they realised they’ve been conned, victims are often reluctant to share what happened to them, meaning that scams can continue to spread unchecked. As part of this national campaign we’re urging people in Poole to help lift the lid on scams and start talking about suspicious emails, scam mail, online ads or unscrupulous door-to-door sellers operating in their area. We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a scam approach to report it to Trading Standards.”

The traditional view of scam victims being elderly or vulnerable is not always true. Fraudsters have also recently targeted Trading Standards themselves by trying to scam exhibitors at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute conference in Bournemouth. Exhibitors received letters requesting information, but hidden in the small print was an agreement to sign up for a directory listing costing thousands of pounds.

Peter Haikin explained: “These scams are run by professional con artists who use a different approach to suit their target victim. For example a bogus concert ticket sales website will appeal to a different market than a fake clairvoyant mailshot. We all need to be on guard, regardless of our age, as it can be very hard to know what to look out for. If you’re contacted out of the blue in particular be on your guard, and never give your bank details out unless you are certain you know who the person is and that you can trust them. If you think you have been scammed, contact Citizens Advice on 03454 040506 for help or to report it to Trading Standards.”

Poole Trading Standards are recommending residents follow their top tips for avoiding scams:

●      If it sounds too good to be true it probably is
●      It you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it
●      You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize
●      If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up
●      Contacted out of the blue? – be suspicious
●      Don’t be rushed – resist pressure to make a decision straight away
●      Never send money to someone you have never met
●      Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance
●      Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN or your online banking password ●      Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams

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Summer Sunday bus service repeated for 2015

A popular bus route in Poole will once again benefit from a Sunday bus service during the summer.

Route 152 provides a bus service between Rockley Park and Poole bus station stopping at Lower Hamworthy on the way. It has again been boosted with a Sunday and Bank Holiday service throughout the school summer holidays benefitting both local residents and visitors alike.

As well as being a popular service for visitors to the holiday park, the route operates close to Hamworthy Park and Harbour Reach providing local residents with a convenient half-hourly bus service to the town centre.

To improve access to some of Poole's favourite attractions, there will be a minor change to the normal 152 route. During the summer it will follow most of the route normally taken by the Route ONE bus providing easy access to Poole Quay, Poole Park and Poole Hospital, which proved popular with residents and visitors to the town last year.

Councillor Ian Potter, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Borough of Poole, said: “This bus service helps residents and visitors get the most out of Poole on Sundays and Bank Holidays by providing easy and convenient access to the town centre and Poole's local attractions. We were really pleased with how many passengers made use of the service last year providing a boost to tourism and the local economy.”

Geoffrey Smith, General Manager at Rockley Park, added: "Rockley Park and its guests are delighted with the resumption of the Route 152 service for the summer season. Poole Quay, local shops and restaurants are a must visit for every visitor to Rockley and this additional service will ensure the experience is hassle free."

Adam Keen, Area Manager for morebus, said: "We are delighted to be running Route 152 on behalf of the Borough of Poole again this year. It complements our other services in the region, and provides customers with further improved connections throughout the summer.”

Councillor Vishal Gupta, Ward Member for Hamworthy East, said: "Service 152 is very popular among the residents of Hamworthy and Tourists at Rockley Park alike. A Half-hourly service to Town Centre boosted with Sunday and Bank Holiday throughout summer holidays is definitely advantageous to all."

Councillor Julie Bagwell, Ward Member for Hamworthy West, commented: "I am delighted that this service is back for the summer, a true asset to residence and visitors."

The route will operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday until 13 September 2015. The service will be operated by Damory and full details can be found on the morebus website www.morebus.co.uk or by telephoning traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

 

Running festival fun for all the family

Families and runners of all abilities are encouraged to head to Poole Park for the 2015 Poole Festival of Running.

Organised by Borough of Poole and Poole Runners, the event is taking place on Sunday 7 June and welcomes everyone, from first time runners and children to elite athletes.

The races include a 5km and 10km for adults and over 15s and a series of races for 8-14s and an under 8s fun run. There will also be entertainment for all ages. There are medals, prizes and trophies to be won, with all races time chipped.

Kevin McErlane, Head of Culture and Community Learning, Borough of Poole, said: “Borough of Poole is pleased to be supporting this great event. Festival of Running is a great family day out. Even if you aren’t running you can still enjoy the many attractions, children’s activities and additional entertainment in the park.”

Poole Festival of Running supports Poole Hospital Charity with money going to the Dorset Cancer Centre.

Places are filling up fast and entry is limited. To enter online and for more information go to:  www.poolerunners.com . Visit facebook  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Poole-Festival-of-Running/296500140462202?fref=ts

Twin Sails Bridge Closure Planned For Annual Maintenance

The Twin Sails Bridge will close for up to one week from Monday 23 March to enable annual maintenance works to be carried out.
 
The bridge will be closed to road traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, from 7am. During the closure Poole Bridge will operate as normal with minimal disruption to marine traffic expected.

 The works to be undertaken include annual preventative maintenance, some minor repairs and some general cleaning tasks. These include:

• High voltage supply – inspection and safety checks.
• Hydraulics – annual service involving changing fluid and breather filters as well as checking numerous valves and controls for correct operation. 
• Electrical – replacing failed LEDs, road studs and lamps in the various lighting systems.
• Control systems – checks and adjustments.
• Cleaning the stainless steel finishes in order to maintain the high quality appearance of the structure.

John Rice, Engineering Manager, Borough of Poole, said: "It is important that we keep our lifting bridges operating efficiently and reliably in the long term and this means carrying out annual preventative maintenance in a planned way. By closing the Twin Sails Bridge outside of peak times in the year we will be able to minimise disruption to residents who will always have one bridge available."

The planned maintenance arrangements for Poole's two lifting bridges are being implemented as: 

• Both bridges require regular essential maintenance to reduce the risk of breakdowns, minimise the risk of expensive repairs and maintain public safety
• It is becoming increasingly expensive to undertake work overnight 
• External suppliers who carry out maintenance of the control systems, hydraulics and high voltage electrical equipment maintenance specialists can be booked in advance 
• Working in March or April and September avoids winter weather conditions which can delay the progress of works as well as avoiding disruption during the busy summer period
• One bridge will still be available for road users 

The annual closure of Poole Bridge will take place in September for up to one week.



 In addition, Borough of Poole is working with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service on a rescue exercise from one of the main piers which will involve a number of fire appliances and the release of smoke in a plant room.  



John Rice, Engineering Manager, Borough of Poole, said: “Please do not be alarmed if you witness lots of blue flashing lights on the bridge and smoke drifting from one of the piers. The purpose of the exercise is to test our procedures and help the Fire and Rescue Service test their ability to react to a real emergency situation.”

Julia's House receives £5,000 in donations following tree light theft

 

Julia’s House received an astonishing £5,000 in donations following the theft of Christmas lights from outside its children’s hospice in Corfe Mullen.

Thieves stole ground lights from the entrance and took an electrical connection box after slashing through cable, wrecking a display of tree lights.

As the news of the theft spread, donations started coming by hand, over the phone, via the Julia’s House website and through a JustGiving page set up by supporter Steve Mullins on the charity’s Facebook page.

The largest single amount was an anonymous donation of £1,000. Another £100 came in from AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter who said:  “I know how much Christmas means to kids, so to see someone do such a horrible thing and me being in a position where I felt I could make a difference I thought it would be nice, especially at Christmas.”

 Hospice staff were especially touched by the kindness of passers-by. One man came to the door and handed over £100 in cash – money that had been intended for repairs to his car. He told nurses: “The children need this more than I need to use my car. The car can wait.”

There were many individual donations of household Christmas lights as well as a bulk delivery from B&Q in Weymouth. One lady even pitched up with cakes for the care team.

More lights and equipment were donated by local companies AEC Electrical and Kew Electrical. A team from AEC Electrics replaced the cabling and junction box and put up the new lights in time for a special weekend care session.

Hospice lead nurse Louise McKenna said: “The response has been truly fantastic. The overwhelming kindness of people with all the donations and messages of support has really lifted the spirits of everyone at the hospice. We can’t thank people enough for supporting us in this special way. The new lights look wonderful.”

 

www.juliashouse.org

£10,000 in memory of Angie

A TRIBUTE fund set up in memory of a much-missed mum struck down by cancer has raised in excess of £10,000 for Forest Holme Hospice Charity. 

 

Angie Simms, a popular district nurse from Corfe Mullen, sadly died aged just 55, following a five year battle with ovarian cancer.
Angie, who has three children and four grandchildren was a keen netball player and enjoyed ‘hashing’ - a form of non-competitive cross-country running with Wessex Hash House Harriers.
She was a much loved wife, mum, ‘nangie’ and friend and was known for her wicked sense of humour, beautiful smile and love of adventure.
Angie’s daughter Emma said, “She never let the cancer get her down and even went on eight mile ‘hash’ runs following an afternoon of chemotherapy. She was an inspiration to us all.”
Angie’s niece Hayley added; “Angie was still nursing and treating patients herself whilst suffering from cancer, she was a real life superwoman.”
Following Angie’s death on 24 February 2014, Angie’s friends and family have been busy organising an array of fundraising events in support of Forest Holme Hospice, which cared for Angie during her final days. The most recent event organised by Angie’s husband, Martin, was a 100km social bike ride over the Jurassic Coast known as a ‘Bash’.
Martin said; “Her family, friends and fellow hashers followed a trail that had been laid by volunteers, cycling up and down hills through the picturesque Dorset countryside.
I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who faced the challenge, and had fun, whilst raising money for such a worthy cause.”
To date, Angie’s friends and family have raised a total of £10,754 in her name. To donate in memory of Angie please visit; www.justgiving.com/angiesimms

Sell-out ball raises a record-breaking £40,000 for Julia’s House

 

 

 

The Julia’s House annual Butterfly Ball has raised more than £40,000 for the children’s hospice charity.

The sell-out event, held at Canford School, was attended by 160 guests including two of the charity’s patrons, actor Martin Clunes and actress and impressionist Debra Stephenson, who both pitched in to make the evening a success.

Martin Clunes conducted the charity auction which  including two lots he had donated - a walk-on part in the next series of Doc Martin and one of the suits his character wore in the hit TV show. They turned out to be the star lots, attracting combined bids to the tune of £2,250.

Debra Stephenson brought the house down when she rounded off the evening by singing the opera classic Oh Mio Babbino Caro, receiving a standing ovation.

As well as a three-course dinner and charity auction, there was also live music, entertainment and dancing.

The charity’s corporate and events manager, Linda Schofield-Green, said she was thrilled by the amount raised, which was £8,000 up on the previous year and a record for a Julia’s House ball.

“It was such an amazing night. We had patrons, trustees, supporters, parents, staff and volunteers all playing their part and contributing to a wonderful family atmosphere. Martin and Debra were just superb. We are so grateful to them and to everyone for making the ball such an outstanding success.

“I cannot imagine how we are ever going to top that next year!” 

 

New squirrels go into hiding on Brownsea

This autumn, visitors to Brownsea Island will be taking part in an unusual squirrel quest. One toy squirrel will be hidden each day during half term, and the lucky person who finds one can take it home. 

 

There are also real red squirrel walks, taking place daily from Monday 29 September to Friday 24 October at 11.30am and 2pm, as well as special walks for children every day during half term. 

 

“We wanted to continue the adventure that was started last year and carry on the fun,” said Claire Dixon, Visitor Services and Enterprises Manager on Brownsea Island.

 

“Our squirrels are always particularly active at this time of year and more easily spotted. We thought it might be fun to let a few toys ones be equally active and make a break for freedom across the island.”

 

The island’s red squirrels are one of the few colonies left in England – the isolation on the island having protected them from the squirrel pox brought by their grey cousins, which have removed the red squirrels from most of the rest of England.

 

The National Trust is working to ensure the squirrel’s long term survival, including removing wild rhododendron to allow the natural re-growth of heath and pine trees – ensuring there will be a food supply into the future. Thinning some of the pine trees allows them to grow more pine cones containing the nuts the squirrels eat – as well as giving room for the trees to naturally regenerate.

 

Chris Thain, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Manager on Brownsea Island said, “One of the most magical things about Brownsea Island is that visitors can get up close to wildlife all year round. As summer turns to autumn we’ve seen an increase in the amount of squirrels foraging for food, so this is the perfect time to visit the island for a wildlife experience you won’t forget.”    

 

At 500 acres, the island is large enough to sustain a thriving population of red squirrels, and unusual in not having any natural predators – encouraging them down to the ground to feed where they can be more easily seen. It’s estimated by conservationists that the island population is doing so well that it is currently at about the maximum the island can sustain.

 

“This is a good time to see them when they are busy gathering food for winter which is why we have our squirrel walks on the island. You are almost guaranteed to see one of them at this time of year when they are active and busy collecting food for the winter,” continued Claire Dixon.

Make Homework Heavenly With Poole Libraries New Homework Club

Poole Libraries are pleased to announce that a free homework club for children has started in all Poole libraries.

Run after school during term time, the clubs are open to all children but specifically those aged 8-14 years old. They offer a safe and friendly environment to work in with help on hand from library staff to access books and find information. There is free use of computers with internet access, as well as free photocopies and print-outs, and online resources linked directly from Borough of Poole website.

Storyteller John Kirk helped launch the homework clubs with a fun workshop at Hamworthy Library. Children from Twin Sails Junior School and Carter Community College took part in an interactive espionage-based story session which involved using library resources to progress the narrative. They all played detective and honed their research skills in an effort to root out ‘the mole’ and rescue BH17 from a crime-wave! Library staff used their vast experience as ‘information detectives’ to help them solve the necessary clues.

Cllr Xena Dion, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for a Prosperous and Sustainable Poole, Borough of Poole, said: "This is a great way for children to make new friends and get their homework finished in a friendly environment. I'd also like to encourage adults who can spare a few hours a week to volunteer and help make a positive impact on children's lives."

So if your child is struggling with spellings, hating history or just muddling along in maths, please encourage them pop in and see us. Sessions are free and there’s no need to book, just check with your local branch for days and times.

For more information about clubs in your local library, speak to a member of staff or visit www.boroughofpoole.com/libraries