West Sussex Libraries have secured £30,000 of National Lottery funding for a new festival aimed at encouraging young people to discover more of what their local libraries have to offer.
The Go All In Festival is being supported through Arts Council England funding and will run across West Sussex libraries during the autumn.
The programme includes Dungeons and Dragons sessions, manga workshops, creative writing, craft activities and special appearances from well-known authors and broadcasters.
The festival also forms part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading 2026, which aims to encourage more people to make reading a regular part of their lives by connecting books with subjects they already enjoy.
Historian, author and broadcaster Greg Jenner, known for his work with Horrible Histories and BBC Radio 4’s You’re Dead To Me, will appear at Crawley Library on Tuesday 22 September at 6.30pm.
Award-winning author and poet Sarah Crossan will visit Worthing Library on Wednesday 7 October, also at 6.30pm. Both author events can also be live-streamed.
Other events taking place across the county include manga workshops with cartoonist James Parsons, Dungeons and Dragons sessions led by experienced dungeon masters, writing workshops and relaxed “Crafternoons” featuring activities including badge-making, crochet, Lego and games.
Individual sessions are aimed at different age groups, with activities available for young people ranging from 11 to 18, while the wider festival is particularly focused on teenagers.
West Sussex County Council says the message behind the programme is: “Get more out of what you’re into!”
Organisers hope the festival will demonstrate that libraries are not simply places to borrow books, but spaces where young people can explore interests, develop skills, meet others and take part in creative activities.
Councillor Tracie Bangert, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said the events had been designed specifically with young people in mind and would help connect reading with interests including sport and film.
Events are free, although places need to be booked in advance.
The Go All In Festival programme continues at libraries across West Sussex throughout the autumn.
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