Jackie Jones
Patient Congress Member
Feedback Werrington Library and Wellbeing Centre
Further to the Locality Meeting on Tuesday 14th March 2017, I am forwarding all members the feedback from my meeting with one of the Community Volunteers from Werrington Library regarding the operation of the library center.
My meeting took place on Friday 10th March with Wendy Sandbrook, PPG Member - Werrington Village Surgery. Prior to the bid to take forwards the library, Wendy was a member of the Werrington Volunteer Group. The group has been formed for some time and organized several events and activities in the village including the Village Life publication, memorial events, fund raising activities etc. The group is well established and operates its own bank account.
The PPG & Volunteer Group bid for the Library.
The bid was supported by local councilor David Shaw (also Chair of the PPG). The bid was to Staffordshire County Council Library Service.
The information presented included the following;
- Background of the existing group
- The group presented their objectives for the Library and Wellbeing Centre. One key objective was to reduce loneliness in the community, especially given the number of elderly residents in Werrington.
- What the group had achieved in the community to date
- Details of financial sustainability. The group held and operated a bank account and demonstrated operational functionality as a team, showing that they could manage a budget, income and expenditure.
- The group put together a business case together with a portfolio of evidence including press releases, a copy of the Village Life publication, memorial events, scarecrow event, children’s party event and others.
- Members of the group were invited to attend a stakeholder event to present their case to County. The group was successful in their bid and is now one of 23 libraries in the community, run by volunteers.
The Library volunteers, roles and responsibilities.
Each volunteer has a role within the library. The roles include the following;
- Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary
- Building management and IT (the library has at least 6 computers with internet access for the community to use)
- Resource scheduling (who is needed and when)
- Shop management – items are donated and sold for the benefit of the centre
- Community planters (floral displays in the village. Planters are handmade, painted and filled with flowers)
- Refreshments – tea, coffee and sugar are donated by the local COOP
- Events – Wrights Pies supported the Christmas Mince Pies. The COOP supported the Pancake Race
- Risk Assessments for the library, health and safety and all activities
Library and Wellbeing Services
The centre offers a number of services in addition to the library service. There is a monthly plan in place that is published to the community. Services include;
Hairdresser, Police and Fire Service drop in, Slimming World Drop in, Mother and Baby Group, Accelerated Reader (Werrington Primary School children and Moorside High School, IT facilities, Craft activities, Home Reader Service (books are delivered from the library to community residents who are house bound), Together for Health.
Importance of becoming a self-sustaining group
The volunteer group is running the library as a non-profit business. It is their responsibility to ensure the centre is run safely and effectively. The group is charged a ‘peppercorn’ rent by County. It is important that they generate their own income to pay for utilities etc.
The maintenance of the building is the responsibility of the County Council. The building has CCTV cameras in place.
Income is generated from library fines, photocopying service, donations, book sales, the shop, refreshments, and some groups who use the community room (Together for Health). In addition, the group are bidding for funding. The group has just been given a large donation from Lovell Homes who are building houses in the locality.
In Summary
Werrington Library and Wellbeing Centre is a credit to the voluntary group. There is a positive ambience as soon as you arrive at the centre and you are welcomed as soon as you step through the door.
The centre would like to receive more clinical services such as smoking cessation, podiatry, weight management and diet and nutrition. They have a room suitable for clinical services.
I would recommend a visit to the centre, especially if any other voluntary group is intending to create a similar model in their community.
Jackie Jones
Patient Congress Member North Staffs CCG
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