Human Library educating young people and adults

AN innovative Human Library that aims to create fresh connections in rural areas between school children and older people in their communities is being boosted by a grant from Swansea Council.

- STAFF REPORTER

The initiative, run by Bantani Cymru CIC, brings together different generations to share stories and learn from each other.

The project is one of 13 schemes to have benefited from grants worth £200,000 as part of the council's rural anchor project being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Hazel Israel, a director of Bantani Cymru CIC, devised the Human Library volunteering project which involves local school pupils and older adults and has received £7,960 to support the project.

Human Libraries offer a safe and structured way for people to “borrow” a person instead of a book to share stories across the generations, promoting social connection, understanding, and inclusion between age groups.

Hazel said: “The project will recruit and support older volunteers from local community groups and care homes to become ‘Living Books, sharing their personal stories and life experiences with school pupils.