A large donation by Smiffys Fancy Dress to Lincolnshire Libraries for the World Book Day Costume Swap and Create project has helped turn around World Book Day preparation for hundreds of families in the county.
Two hundred new costumes were handed over to Gainsborough Library and shared between the 14 Lincolnshire libraries taking part. The donation by the Gainsborough head office of Smiffys meant that quick, last-minute costumes were readily available to transform children into their favourite book characters.
The aim of Lincolnshire Libraries World Book Day Costume Swap and Create project is for all children and their parents who want to take part in World Book Day – the annual celebration of reading for pleasure and promoting the joy of books – have a ‘new to them’ costume.
“We’re delighted to be a part of the Lincolnshire Libraries World Book Day Costume Swap by donating Smiffys costumes to children who might not have had the opportunity to dress up this year”
Dominique Peckett, director at Smiffys said: “We’re delighted to be a part of the Lincolnshire Libraries World Book Day Costume Swap by donating Smiffys costumes to children who might not have had the opportunity to dress up this year. With our warehouse and one of our offices based in Gainsborough, being able to help children in our local area join in with the magic of World Book Day by bringing characters to life is a privilege for us.”
Lincolnshire Libraries is run by GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) the not-for-profit social enterprise, on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council and runs core and mobile libraries across the county as well as supporting 34 community hubs. The GLL connection is that back in 1993 Greenwich Council needed to find a new way to run its leisure centres because of public spending cuts and came up with a new model – and so, the first of its kind in UK leisure, GLL was born
Nicola Rogers, GLL’s Lincolnshire Libraries partnership manager, said: “There’s been a terrific response to our clothes swap project. Since it started four weeks ago, so many people have got behind us. Word quickly spread and when Smiffys approached us with this amazing offer we were ecstatic.
“On top of having many costumes donated, the contribution from Smiffys has meant that those who didn’t have a costume to swap have accessed a brand new costume for World Book Day 2025. We couldn’t be more thankful for their generosity.”
The Lincolnshire Libraries World Book Day Costume Swap and Create project received funding worth £1,800 from the Libraries Connected and Arts Council England’s Microgrant programme. It has involved the libraries hosting costume swap rails for parents to donate past costumes and swap for something ‘new’ for their child to wear.
This year the Lincolnshire Libraries World Book Day Costume Swap and Create project also held free Costume Creator sessions, where children were given materials, templates and support by library staff to work up one of four different book themes. Emergency Packs were also handed out by library staff, with simple, last-minute ideas for parent and child to create a character.
