A Little Bit of Magic at Church Square Shopping Centre - St helens Summer holidays

9 hours ago
3 min read

This summer, we brought a little bit of magic, creativity and community to Church Square Shopping Centre in St Helens as part of their World Book Month celebrations.

With the summer holidays in full swing, we know that keeping children entertained can be expensive — particularly for families who may already be feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living. That’s why free community events like this are so important.

For the event, we created a magical space where children and families could come along, get creative and enjoy some time together completely free of charge.

From spell books to story time

The children were invited to make their very own spell books, decorating them with stars, planets, glitter and magical illustrations. They could then fill their books with their own ideas — from imaginary potions and recipes to drawings, stories, spells and anything else they could dream up.

The creativity was brilliant to see, with every spell book becoming completely unique to the child who made it.

We also brought the magic of books to life with Harry Potter reading stories to the children, creating a fun and memorable experience that connected the creative activity with the joy of reading and imagination.

Bringing the magic into the wider community

The fun didn't stop inside the event space.

We also took the Church Square mascot out around the shopping centre to meet families, say hello and spread a few smiles. From children meeting the mascot for the first time to adults stopping for a chat and a photo, it created lots of spontaneous moments of connection throughout the centre.

These small interactions matter.

Community spaces can sometimes feel very different during the school holidays, particularly for families who don't have the money to take part in expensive days out. Having somewhere local where children can make something, meet other families, laugh, play and simply enjoy themselves can make a real difference.

Why free community events matter

Church Square serves a community where there are areas of significant deprivation and relatively little affluence. For some families, a day out that involves entry fees, food, transport and activities simply isn't realistic.

Free events remove that barrier.

They create opportunities for children to experience something new without their parents having to worry about the cost. They also give parents and carers a reason to get out of the house, meet other people and feel part of their local community.

For some people, that can be particularly important during the long summer holidays, when routines change and isolation can become more noticeable.

Events like this aren't just about crafts or entertainment. They're about connection, inclusion and creating positive experiences in places where people live and spend their time.

A little creativity can go a long way

What we loved most was seeing how quickly the space became a little community of its own — children sitting together making their spell books, families chatting, people stopping to see what was happening and plenty of smiles along the way.

And, of course, there was a lot of glitter.

We're proud to have been part of Church Square's World Book Month celebrations and to have created a free, welcoming activity for local families during the summer holidays.

Because sometimes a few craft supplies, a good story, a friendly mascot and a little imagination are all you need to create a bit of magic.