Home – Werrington Community LibraryOwnership: CIO
Location: Werrington Library, Ash Bank Road, Werrington, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST9 0JS
Contact information:werrington.library@staffordshire.gov.uk – 01782 302706
Website: https://werringtoncommunitylibrary.org.uk/
Setting the Scene
Established as a Community Managed Library in 2016 – Werrington Community Managed Library has since grown to over 5000 members. Werrington really is a Community Hub – without doubt there is something for everyone.
Having already received The Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, the library was recently awarded the winner of the Libraries Connected “Health and Wellbeing Award” 2023. This is a resounding success brought about through the commitment of many excellent volunteers.
Community Hub
Volunteers are encouraged to get involved with new projects, ideas and working groups.
The library has very close links with others in the community, particularly the primary school and nearby nursery who arrange regular visits for the children to enjoy the books, as well as supporting the extremely popular Mini-Kickers football club. Close links with the nearby GP surgery has also resulted in the Patient Participation Group meeting regularly at the library.
Library activities
In addition to the traditional services of the library, the Werrington Library volunteers have embraced the challenges brought about through possible closure and COVID, and have pressed on with a number of initiatives including:
- Community shop – selling goods which have been donated as well as produce from groups who meet in the library, like the Knit and Natter club;
- Knit & Natter have produced over 5,000 Comfort Teddies for the Emergency Services to distribute in times of crisis
- Creative classes for children;
- Warm Spaces partner;
- ·Kidz2Kidsz Christmas Fund – coordinating donations for children from disadvantaged backgrounds at Christmas;
- Foodbank donations point;
- Free Food Everyday – linking with local supermarket to collect unsold perishable items for free distribution;
- Placement of a community Defibrillator at the library;
- Producing the very informative “Village Life” community magazine
Werrington Community Library in Numbers
Activities each month
Library Members
Volunteers
Hours open per week
The Wellbeing Centre
The Wellbeing Hub hosts over 50 sessions per month with over 3,000 to date – including CBT, Child Health and Development sessions, and a Diabetes prevention programme. Housed in their spacious, disability -friendly and well equipped Wellbeing Room, and in the Garden Therapy Lodges which have been purpose-built on the grounds, the library are able to offer many more inclusive services for their local community.
The latest forward-thinking project is in partnership with the primary school, looking at climate change and environmental initiatives.
We look forward to updating on many more successes to come!