As Power to Change reflect on their interim learnings of Community Improvement District (CIDs) pilots, I consider how important community led organisations are in shaping future high streets. Community led organisations such as libraries can help breathe life back...

Action needed from Energy and Trade Intensive Industries regarding the Energy Bills Discount Scheme From 1 April 2023 a higher level of support will be provided to non-domestic customers in the sectors published here due to their Energy and Trade Intensive nature. To...

Delivered in partnership with national children's charity the Youth Sport Trust and public libraries, this year's Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep children's minds and bodies active over the summer break, empowering young people to forge new connections with...

In honour of Their Majesties’ service to the country, Royal Voluntary Service is launching the Coronation Champions Awards for volunteers, an official Coronation project. Together with Her Majesty The Queen Consort, the awards will celebrate extraordinary volunteers...

From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. This will apply to: Local elections Police and Crime Commissioner elections UK parliamentary by-elections Recall petitions From October 2023 it will also apply...

Carbon Planner is free and could support you to become a more sustainable and climate conscious organisation, and help you to identify potential cost and carbon savings too. Use it to measure your carbon footprint by answering a few questions, get tailored actions and...

To mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation thousands of organisations across the country are getting together to give us all the chance to help out in our own local communities. Starting on Monday 8th May there will be opportunities for everyone to join in. No matter...

This year a range of events and initiatives will take place to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, culminating in a three-day UK bank holiday weekend in May. The BBC is offering local communities a one-off TV Licence...

Our wonderful trustees David Smith, Sue Wills & Chris Clarke celebrated their investitures recently, recognising their contributions to libraries and communities. We congratulate them all for their significant and ongoing contributions, and on the recognition they...

Ensuring prepayment meter customers receive £400 energy bills discount UK households are eligible for money off their electricity bills via the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), which is paid in monthly instalments, running until March 2023. The government is asking...

Does your library’s name or location in the UK (village, town or city, but not street) begin with the letters H, I, J or K? If so, you’re welcome to submit an invitation by [date tbc], asking Simon Armitage to visit during the next Tour in 2024. Simon Armitage has...

Library On An initiative being developed to connect library services with people, co-designed with library services, which is funded by Arts Council England and powered by the British Library. The ethos is to celebrate libraries and improve their perception, share...

The Community Libraries Network and the Digital Culture Network have come together to see how our Tech Champions can support libraries in their digital journeys. If you run or support a community library and would like to get in touch to book a free 1-2-1 support...

Warm Welcome is working with partners to identify and communicate to potential volunteers for Warm Welcome Spaces and this is your opportunity to connect with these willing helpers. ‍Find out more

Corbett Library have been awarded a project grant by the Good Things Foundation to help battle digital exclusion within its catchment area. With the cost-of-living crisis driving up inequalities and layering further complexities on the personal circumstances of...

Chair of Trustees, Kamal, joins to say what’s on offer at North Harrow Community Library – from IT classes for older learners, Rhyme Time for toddlers and their parents, to Knitting Club, there is lots on for everyone. Find out more

The ‘Energy Bills Discount Scheme’ has been announced, confirming the nature of support for businesses & charities from April. We will update with additional information once there has been clarity on the extent of the scheme, with reference to libraries. Find out...

Indulge in a digital detox, switch off from the outside world and lose yourself in an hour of uninterrupted reading. The Silent Reading Café is a space for quiet reading and contemplation, rather than a reading group. Find out more

We have been so encouraged to see how this community response to a desperate crisis has grown and grown over the months. Spaces registered: 5,749 Total number of spaces: 5,749 Total funds raised: £190,000 Estimated number of people helped per week: 95,000 Find out...

Unlike many Freecycle groups, this network isn’t restricted to a specific town or location. Instead, it provides a platform for people working in libraries to ‘freecycle’ resources, equipment and furniture across the library network. Find out more