New Swindon Central Library Community Hub

The council has introduced the next phase of its Community Hub programme at Central Library is introduced.
Services available at the new hub include employment and skills advice, Adult Community Learning and support for young people looking for work or training. 
This sits alongside existing library services including self-service computers, Blue Badge and bus pass enquiries and information about health, wellbeing and other local services.
Councillor Matt Hinton, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Safety and Customer Services, said: “We’re changing the way the council delivers services. 
"Our ambition is to bring more support into the heart of our communities, making it easier for residents to access the help they need in places they know and trust.
“The Community Hub at Central Library is an important part of that approach, bringing together a range of council services and partner organisations in one accessible location. 
"It means residents can find the right support more easily, without having to navigate different services or buildings.
“We’ve already seen encouraging results from our first Community Hub in Parks, where more than 150 residents have accessed support. 
"The Central Library Hub allows us to build on that success, reaching more people and strengthening the Council’s presence in the communities we serve.
“This is about delivering services in a more joined-up and practical way, using our existing community spaces to make the council more visible, more accessible and better connected to residents. 
"Alongside everything people value about their local library, this will provide a welcoming place where residents can access advice, support and services when they need them.”
Over time, the council says, the hub will bring more together council services and partner organisations under one roof, helping residents to get the help they need without having to navigate multiple services or know exactly where to turn to help.
Open for visitors without an appointment, The Community Hub at Swindon Central Library will particularly focus on helping people improve their employment opportunities, develop new skills and access financial and wellbeing support. 
A new Youth Hub at the Library is offering employment and career support for young people aged between 16 and 24, with council staff offering advice on careers, apprenticeships and training.
The opening builds on the success of the Park Library Community Hub, which has already provided advice and support to more than 150 residents since opening earlier this year. 
The work is also supported by the Meadows Family Hub in Penhill, which provides dedicated support for children and families as part of Swindon's Best Start for Life programme.
As part of an ongoing learning and development phase, feedback from residents, community groups, staff and partner organisations will continue to shape how the hubs evolve, helping the council refine and improve the model before expanding it further across Swindon.
Cllr Vinay Manro, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “Community Hubs are changing the way we deliver council services. 
"Everyone needs support at some point, and our aim is to make it easier to access, closer to where people live and available when it is needed most. 
"By bringing services such as Live Well, adult social care, housing support, and other council teams together with our partners, we can provide joined up support earlier, help prevent issues from escalating and support more people to stay independent for longer.
“The Central Library Community Hub is another important step in localising council services. 
"We are continuing to learn from each Community Hub we open, listening to residents, community organisations, and our partners so we can shape services around local needs and make them easier to access within the communities where people live.”
The Central Library Community Hub is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. Most services are available on a drop-in basis, while some partner organisations run scheduled sessions throughout the week.
Visitors to the library can also visit the new Solid Ground Coffee café, a welcoming community space within the library that offers refreshments while supporting young people to develop valuable employability and customer service skills.
More information can be found here.
 

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