Mayor’s thanks to groups and individuals ‘who go the extra mile’

Yesterday the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain, presented six awards to groups and individuals at an event in City Hall.

The Rhyme Challenge has been running in libraries throughout the district over the last four years.

Every year about 300 childcare groups and libraries take part and an estimated 4,000 children and their parents use the resources.

The challenge is for parents to learn five rhymes with their child.

Coun Hussain said: “This is the perfect opportunity to reward those individuals and groups who go the extra mile to ensure that the challenge has been a success each year.

“The aim of the Rhyme Challenge is to encourage parents and carers to start learning in the home as early as possible in a fun way.

“A huge ‘well done’ to all the award winners.”

Bradford-born picture book author Trish Cooke, who was one of the original writers for The Tweenies on CBBC, was at the ceremony, while performer Sue Dyde led a rhymetime session.

Allerton Children’s Centre won the Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Award for Best Practice in Children’s Centres, with Mortimer House Children’s Centre the runner-up.

The prize for Best Practice in Toddler Group (BUFA) went to St Marys Teddy Tots and Toddlers, with Clayton Baptist Toddler Group the runner-up.

Livewires Toddler Group took the Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Award for Best Practice in Toddler Group (PSLA) and the 3-2-1-0 Toddler Group was the runner-up.

The Individual category winner was Mel Astin, of the BD4 Toddler Group, while  freelancer David Morrison came second.

The Best Practice in Libraries winner was Christine Selsby, who is the team leader at Menston, Ilkley and Burley libraries.

Julie Holmes, a customer support assistant at Wyke Library, was the runner-up.

Finally, the Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Award for Best Practice in a Private Day Nursery went to Light of the World Community Nursery, with Nightingales Day Nursery as the runner-up.