Oakham Library is introducing a regular relaxed drop-in session for young people aged 11 to 16 years old.

Chat and Chill sessions are a chance for young people to get together in a relaxed environment to talk, read and be creative with volunteer-led crafts and other activities.

They will also be able to take advantage of free Wi-Fi and an extensive comic and graphic novel collection.

The monthly sessions, organised by Rutland Library Service, are part of a programme of improvements being led by young people from a library Teen Advisory Group called Rutland Bookworm Discovery.

The group was set up as part of National Takeover Day last November and is run in conjunction with Jules Youth Service.

Members of the group have worked together to provide advice and focused feedback on a number of improvements to the library service, including new furniture for the young people's area, a review of how dyslexic-friendly books are organised and presented, and developing the library service's range of graphic novels.

Coun Lucy Stephenson, Rutland County Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "It's been really insightful working with our young people to develop Rutland's library services.

"They've given us some invaluable insights into how they use the libraries and what developments they would like to see.

"As a result, we now have a number of organised activities taking place on Saturdays, designed by young people for young people.

"The sessions will start during October half term – providing a relaxed environment where young people can meet, read, relax and be creative."

Chat and Chill sessions are set to begin on Saturday, 19 October and will be held on the first Saturday of each month.

Each session will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Oakham Library and is free to attend.

Young people don't need to be library members to attend and no advanced booking is required.

Free adult colouring materials and gaming will be available at every session.

Sessions up to Christmas include:

Saturday, 19 October

Colouring Café - mandalas and more. Use adult colouring books and coloured pencil selection to relax and colour. Gaming. Graphic novels and comics.

Saturday, 2 November

Creepy Cartoons Inspired by Halloween. Use comic book blanks and materials to create your own cartoon character. Gaming. Adult Colouring.

Saturday 7 December

Make Memory Jewellery. Bring in a few photos, which will be reduced and colour copied to insert into blank pendants and keyrings. Makes a great Christmas gift for friends and family. Bring £1 for materials. Gaming. Adult Colouring.

Current event details are available on the Rutland Library Service website by clicking the red button below and there will be additional sessions during half term breaks.