Rainbow Factory Leeds storybook subscriptions deliver monthly adventures to spark children's imaginations

Sparking young imaginations through the power of storytelling proved to be a winning formula for the team at Rainbow Factory when they created an adventure centre in Leeds to host children’s parties, family days out and school trips.
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And it is that same sense of creativity that has seen them adapt after the impact of repeated lockdowns meant they had to give up the venue in Farsley and find a new way to keep doing what they love.

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Managing director Hazel Merlino said: “There was no rent break for us. The Government gave us a grant but it was a drop in the ocean.

Hazel Merlino, managing director at Rainbow Factory, with one of its adventure books. Picture: Tony JohnsonHazel Merlino, managing director at Rainbow Factory, with one of its adventure books. Picture: Tony Johnson
Hazel Merlino, managing director at Rainbow Factory, with one of its adventure books. Picture: Tony Johnson
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"We had two options – to go into administration or decide to reinvent ourselves and go online.

"More and more we came to understand that our community needed us. They missed us, that safe haven where the parents could relax and just allow the children to be immersed with their imagination for the day.”

The first step in that reinvention was the creation of a publishing arm that has sold thousands of activity books for children.

When allowed, there were also pop-up holiday clubs and visits to schools.

Bruce Sharp, Molly Rumford, Martin Bowtell and Hazel Merlino get creative at the Rainbow Factory base in Wharfebank Mills, Otley. Picture: Tony JohnsonBruce Sharp, Molly Rumford, Martin Bowtell and Hazel Merlino get creative at the Rainbow Factory base in Wharfebank Mills, Otley. Picture: Tony Johnson
Bruce Sharp, Molly Rumford, Martin Bowtell and Hazel Merlino get creative at the Rainbow Factory base in Wharfebank Mills, Otley. Picture: Tony Johnson
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And this week, Rainbow Factory has launched The Wonder Adventure – a monthly make-and-do story book adventure subscription for children aged four to 10 that it believes is the first of its kind in the country.

Hazel said: “They get the box every month with an adventure book. They have to complete lots of challenges from doing a game or an experiment, to doing a puzzle or food fun. We call it the seven wonders of the imagination.

“They get lots of craft bits to support them but there's also live events online. We're going to send out an audio book too because we’re a theatre company as well.

“We don’t want to just send out a box. We want to be community focused and support the children the whole month.

Subscribers will receive an adventure book pack this like each month including an activity book, craft materials and an audio book. Picture: Tony JohnsonSubscribers will receive an adventure book pack this like each month including an activity book, craft materials and an audio book. Picture: Tony Johnson
Subscribers will receive an adventure book pack this like each month including an activity book, craft materials and an audio book. Picture: Tony Johnson
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“What’s really amazing about this is it isn’t just Leeds-based now. We can support children all over the UK.”

The first monthly packs were sent out in time for the half-term holiday, while a partnership with Leeds Libraries means an adventure book and craft kit have also gone to 200 disadvantaged children via the Healthy Holidays programme.

"What we're trying to do is promote independent learning," Hazel said. "The older children can really sit there and do it themselves.

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"The younger kids can listen with their parents and work through it. It's a great bonding thing."

The packs contain instructions for each activity, with 'how to' videos also being made available online as part of the subscription.

For Hazel, it is all about sharing the love of reading and writing that she developed herself as a child as well as encouraging creative learning.

“I used to sit for hours and hours role playing, building and constructing,” she said. “I think children and parents are really finding it very regimented with their home schooling.

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"A lot of inventors, scientists, pioneers are very passionate about the imagination. Einstein says information gets you from A to B, but imagination can take you anywhere and everywhere."

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