The Story Trail

16/06/2026

We were delighted that Amaze patron Dame Julia Donaldson visited our Learner Programme Headline Sponsor Hopscotch Children's Nurseries today.

This special visit was to open West Hove Hospcotch's new library and to see their BookBench in progress. She also read The Gruffalo and A Squash and a Squeeze to the children.

Each Hopscotch nursery is designing their own BookBench for The Story Trail and they are sponsoring JEylesDesigns brilliant BookBench too.

Dame Julia is also judging our learner writing competition, alongside Jordan from Hopscotch and Vanessa from The Book Nook which closed earlier this month. Winners will be announced in July.

Image descriptions in alt text. Photo by Brighton Pictures.

13/06/2026

Congratulations to Dame Julia Donaldson - and thank you for your support

Congratulations to Amaze patron and The Story Trail ambassador Julia Donaldson for her damehood in the King's birthday honours.

This well deserved honour comes in recognition of services to literature. We are so grateful for everything Julia does for families and for Amaze. She has been a patron of Amaze for many years and her support is incredibly valued by us all.

For more information about Julia's support for The Story Trail, visit https://amazesussex.org.uk/news/julia-donaldson-announced-as-story-trail-writers-judge/?highlight=julia+donaldson

(Photo credit Urszula Soltys)

10/06/2026

Have you seen our two designs revealed so far?

Here is Sweet Memory by I DREW This and 100 Years of David by The Postman

We can't wait for you to see the rest of our BookBench sculptures this autumn

07/06/2026

We're having a great day Brighton and Hove Soiree Rotary Club Hove Park Family Festival.

Thank you to for coming to meet Benchy Amaze

05/06/2026

Sign up as a logistics volunteer this Volunteers’ Week. We are looking for volunteers who can help with with delivering, lifting and setting up at events, including drivers with their own vehicle.

Apply now at https://search.volunteero.org/amaze

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01/06/2026

We are celebrating all Amaze volunteers this Volunteers' Week, marking 42 years of saying thank you to all volunteers across the UK for everything they do for society.
It is exciting to offer a new way to get involved with Amaze this year through the Story Trail. We have a variety of roles available including events, retail, logistics and more.

Apply now at https://search.volunteero.org/amaze



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31/05/2026

Excited to be at today with Benchy our mascot Book bench

Come and see us (and Benchy!) and find out about how you can this autumn - as a trail-goer, a volunteer and more

22/05/2026

All summer we will be popping up across the city with our lovely mascot sculpture Benchy, spreading the news of the upcoming Story Trail and letting you know how you can get involved.

Are we popping up near you? Come and find us at the locations and events above and have a cheeky selfie with Benchy ahead of the trail in September.

21/05/2026

We're out delivering some of our small BookBenches to learner groups today, with huge thanks to Ronan from Bearded Bro's Removals & Storage for driving them across the city.

We can't wait to see what our learner groups create!

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