Helping people feel less worried, move around more easily, and make new friends – these are just some of the ways H&F Libraries' new Happiness Hour is making a difference.
Run at Shepherds Bush Library in Wood Lane W12, the weekly sessions use smart projectors to offer a variety of activities with a range of benefits for both the young and old. This includes people with dementia, people with learning disabilities and more.
One of the first sessions saw nonverbal children from a local primary school take part in activities to help get them out of their comfort zone. Exercises like popping digital paint bubbles and virtual keyboards helped initiate interactions with other people and greatly lengthened their time spent engaging with an activity.
In our adult sessions, quizzes and mobility games have already proved popular, bringing together groups who would have otherwise never interacted with each other.
Mandy, Libraries Manager at H&F Council, said: "The games have a layered design so that everyone at different levels can interact together: talking, looking at each other, playing together and laughing with each other.
"Children with additional needs have come to the library and participated in some of the activities. The staff accompanying them said it would really benefit many of the students attending their school."
WATCH: H&F Libraries Manager Mandy talks about Happiness Hour
Join our Happiness Hour
Happiness Hour is currently held at Shepherds Bush Library (just outside Westfield shopping mall) every Monday at 12pm. In the future, Happiness Hours will look to move between H&F libraries throughout the borough.
There is no registration required, and sessions are free to join. Simply come on down and our helpful staff will take you through a guided session to best suit your needs.
What's On
We have a range of events and activities for all ages at our libraries across the borough. Take a look here.
If you want to become a member, simply complete our library joining form to get started.
You will become a temporary member. When you have your temporary number, please visit a library branch with a form of identification to become a full member and borrow items.
