We run a number of projects each year, all with the aim of helping people to develop a love of words, either spoken, or written, or both. If you’d like to get involved or know someone who could benefit from taking part in one of our projects please contact us.
Projects
Wordfest
We’re always on the lookout for new ideas or new volunteers so if you have a great idea for a new project or would like to volunteer with us, we’d love to hear from you!
Ongoing | Project
Evie's Book Swap started in 2020 by Leanne Hames. You can read more about it here
The network is starting to grow! We have received funding along with the Calne Pocket Park from Calne Area Board and The Calne Lions to build even more book swap boxes! The network will soon be live on our app. For now you can visit the original Evie's book swap, and now the Pocket Park Little Library
Ongoing | Project
Along with Wiltshire Family and Community Learning we've been listening to parents and carers to work together and find support to navigate supporting our children through school.
Our listening told us that support with mental health and neurodiversity was important and understanding why our children might not want to go to school. Workshops are held in Calne Library throughout the year and you can find out the next ones here
Ongoing | Listening
I F***ing Hate Forms
We have been taking our voice recorders out and about at town events asking you about forms.
Necessary evil? Or useless barrier?
We asked you how you feel when faced with a form, do you run and hide or tackle it head on?
What tools have you found to help you?
We're sharing the highlights as they come in with organisations and places like GP surgeries and schools.
Our opening line might ask you about forms but we want to talk to you about anything!
Ongoing | Wordfest App
Calne Tale Trails brings to life stories, both past and present, of the Calne community area. Access the stories using our progressive web app either from the comfort of your own home, or out and about using a mobile device.
Completed | Courses
Learn To Read
Between 2018 and 2021 we partnered with Launch 2 Learning to deliver courses for adults to help them achieve their goals of reading and writing. Some people wanted to gain employment, some wanted to read with their children and help with homework, others wanted to read magazines. With the help of ESF funding, The Underwood Trust and private donations
2022 | Workshops
Creativity and Comedy
We loved working with Angie Belcher during our last festival and there were a bunch of young people looking for something to do and had something to say. We worked with Angie and the Rise Trust for 6 weeks of outreach and 6 weeks of workshops to learn about comedy personas, tell your story, own your story and how to be funny.
2019 | Festivals
And now for something
slightly different
Celebrating 50 years of Monty Python we even had a huge comedy theme. Workshops and performances of stand up, musical comedy, and some ridiculous competitions.
Complete|Project
Pub is the Hub
We worked with 'Pub is the Hub' and Wadworths BRewery for a year talking about pubs as safe spaces to get help and direction. Bar staff told us about reading people's mail, understanding autism and helping people maintain independence through dementia. We learned a lot from this project and hope to do more in the future. Would you like to help?
Every festival we took activities to pubs. Beer mat poetry, bar bananagrams, the great big pub quiz. Have you got any other ideas?
2017 | Festivals
Out of this World
2017 set us to celebrate all things planetary. We had a huge planetarium in the library, a family fun day, a youtube song writing workshop, a real life space suit and great big pub quiz with inter-pub competition.
More fun projects coming soon
2016 | Festivals
Calne's Unexpected Tales
Our 2016 Festival was the first of it's kind. With over 20 activities to take part in with a Roald Dahl theme. Our first trail took place with hand made images of Dahl books around the town in windows and public spaces. We too part in messy recipes and stories of the sky and had a fantastic time!
Ongoing | Podcast
Curiosity Calne
Local Tales of the Supernatural is a podcast series developed by and for young local people. Calne myths and ghost stories of the past form the basis for this supernatural series.
Tune in here if you dare!
More info here.