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Warm welcoming spaces aim to beat loneliness


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Libraries around Devon and Torbay are continuing to throw their doors open to help communities find warmth and overcome loneliness this winter.

The ‘Libraries for Life’ campaign has already seen customers enjoying everything from free hot drinks to crafts and making new friends in their local libraries. Now it’s being extended into the first few months of 2023 to continue to offer the huge range of support which has proved so popular.

Colin Bray from Libraries Unlimited, which runs libraries in Devon on our behalf, said:

“January can be a gruelling month with post-Christmas blues for people at the best of times but this year looks to be particularly tough. People are struggling to pay their bills, the days are short and dark and cold, and people’s feelings of loneliness and isolation can be acute. We want to continue to do all we can to try and help our customers, both regular and new, get through the tail end of winter.”

Individual libraries have taken up the challenge with enthusiasm.

At Crediton there’s free teas and coffees and mindfulness colouring, jigsaws and Scrabble. Leaflets and information on budgeting, Crediton Foodbank, Exeter Community Energy and Citizens Advice are all on display. The library works in partnership with Sustainable Crediton to provide a Community Food Larder and its latest development is a Reminiscence Project with volunteers interviewing and recording people’s memories.

Library Supervisor Sue Lee said:

“We are very grateful to our volunteers and local organisations whose help has meant that we have been able to expand our warm libraries offer and support more people. Our customers are very appreciative of the extra free activities and refreshments.”

Totnes Library has displayed cheaper recipes ideas and information for crucial services across the community. They have had visits from the local food bank and have a donated coat rail, in conjunction with homeless charity Julian House. Warm-up Mondays featured free tea, coffee, and biscuits in partnership with Morrisons.

Library Supervisor Eve Ashton said:

“We feel very proud to be able to provide people in our community with a free, safe, and welcoming warm space. We have seen a big uptake in people using our services with lots of our customers thankful that we are a warm space. We are always looking for further community needs and how we can support.”

Amongst the other libraries’ warm welcome offerings include:

Budleigh Salterton – A display on books on money saving

Churston – Working with Torbay Community Buildings to publicise the warm welcoming space, and offering a Reminiscence Project

Cullompton – Displays of recipe books, visits from the Julian House charity which is now providing a donated warm coat rail, visits from Involve Mid-Devon providing displays and signposting to local organisations, weekly free tea, coffee and chat mornings

Dartmouth – Displays of books on budgeting, and free access to online cookery magazines

Tiverton – Hot drinks available, community fridge, puzzles and reading materials

Holsworthy – Free hot drinks and visits from Digital Devon

Honiton – A display about economical food preparation and slow cookers

Ilfracombe – A display of books on budgeting, low cost cooking and money saving, along with information on supportive organisations, and visits Citizens Advice. Free tea and coffee at all times, along with puzzles and adult colouring books, and a donated warm coat rail from Julian House

Ivybridge – Visit from Citizens Advice

Okehampton – Displays on cutting costs, thrifty cookery books and information about food banks, community fridges and other local organisations. Popular all-day free tea, coffee, biscuits and squash donated by Morrisons, with puzzles to do

Ottery St Mary – Displays of books about money saving. A session with Exeter Community Energy, Ottery Larder, Ottery Help Scheme and Citizens Advice Service East Devon. Weekly craft and cuppa sessions

Paignton – A display on cost-effective cooking, puzzles, adult colouring books and drop-in crochet and knitting groups. Library staff brought in copies of their own personal favourite recipes for people to take home

St Thomas Library – Displays of low-cost recipes books, free warm drinks and biscuits provided by the Friends Group alongside newspapers and donated adult colouring books and puzzles. Visits from the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Community Builders and the local parish church. At half term there were 150 children at a craft session, and a poetry afternoon was held for adults

Sidmouth – Free teas and coffees

South Molton – A fortnightly free community hub featuring a local social prescriber and member of the Devon Health Public Outreach team. Tea, coffee, biscuits and apples alongside crafts and puzzles. A display of books on money saving, recipes and cookery books

Torrington – Display of books on money saving

Uffculme – The Library Friends used Coop community fund money to buy comfy chairs for warmth gatherings

You can join any of the Devon libraries for free by visiting Libraries Unlimited’s Devon website.

Or you can join any of the Torbay libraries for free by visiting Libraries Unlimited’s Torbay website.

For further information and full contact details please visit our web page librariesunlimited.org.uk.


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