A PROJECT by Torfaen library staff has received thousands of pounds in funding to explore health and wellbeing issues in a festival.

The 'Slipper Swap' is one of fourteen projects across the UK, out more than 100 applications, to be chosen to "inspire conversations, curiosity and debate within local communities".

The project will receive £7,800 from the £200,000 'Engaging Libraries' pilot scheme with funding from the Carnegie UK Trust and the Wellcome Trust.

The project aims to encourage conversations between young and old generations through shared reading groups exploring the ageing process and health and wellbeing issues from stress and obesity to body image.

Torfaen council's executive member with responsibility for libraries, Cllr Alan Jones, "This funding means we now have an opportunity to engage with the younger and older generations in an imaginative way that will see them come together to discuss some important health issues.

"Outside of the family, these groups perhaps don’t talk to each other very often so we hope the Slipper Swap festival will see better understanding of health and the ageing process, foster support and improve wellbeing throughout the community".

Chief executive of Carnegie UK Trust, Martyn Evans described public libraries as "unique, trusted places at the heart of local communities" and hopes the projects will be a "source of inspiration and learning" for the public library sector.

The winning projects were selected with the input of an expert Advisory Group including representatives from the Society of Chief Librarians, CILIP The Library and Information Association, Arts Council England, Scottish Library and Information Council, Welsh Government, the Local Government Management Agency in the Republic of Ireland and Libraries NI.