Libraries empowering change: From isolation to integration

By Tessa Blades, Sector Development Project Manager at Libraries Connected.

Turning Isolation into Inclusion

Through the DCMS-funded Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) initiative, delivered by Libraries Connected in partnership with Arts Council England, library services are offering structured activities, peer support and volunteering pathways that are turning isolation into inclusion – and helping people regain purpose and connection.

Doncaster Libraries – Confidence through volunteering

The Danum Volunteers project began in January 2024, with a goal of recruiting 52 volunteers and reaching 120 people at risk of chronic loneliness. It quickly exceeded expectations, welcoming over 130 volunteers and engaging far more people. Activities ranged from weekly volunteer-run art clubs to gardening sessions, museum object handling and local studies library roles. These were particularly popular with under-25s, asylum seekers and people unable to work due to health issues.

One powerful story is that of volunteer “V,” who had fled domestic violence and felt isolated in a new town. She started by joining the Art for Everyone group, gained confidence, and now volunteers in two different roles. She has since found part-time work in a related sector — crediting the library’s support for changing her life.

Rochdale Libraries – Building community through co-designed groups

Rochdale Libraries co-designed groups based on community feedback. They launched:

• The Friendship Group, offering a welcome space for refugees and newcomers.
• Therapeutic Thursdays, aimed at those with long-term health conditions.
• Bilingual Storytime, where volunteers read stories in English and a second language, followed by crafts.

These groups became launchpads for participants to become volunteers themselves. People now support IT sessions, work with foodbanks, join health projects with Living Well and even gain employment.
One participant said, “We give and receive support here. It’s a place where you feel appreciated, like you belong.”

Durham Libraries – Music & memory at Tunes & Chat

Tunes & Chat, hosted by Durham Libraries, started as a casual music and social group. But when the team realised several attendees were living with dementia, they shifted focus. Inspired by Playlist for Life, they began playing songs from participants’ youth – sparking long-buried memories and conversation.

Joan, who had been quiet and withdrawn, shared that her difficult childhood left her with few joyful memories. But music began unlocking them. With support from a dedicated volunteer who drives her to sessions, she’s grown more open and engaged. Even as her dementia progresses, the songs still light her up.

The group introduced memory scrapbooks to help preserve stories, and Joan’s experience shows how consistent, compassionate engagement can restore dignity and connection. As volunteer Rosalind said, “They go away happy – and it does me good too.”

Biography

Tess Blades

Tessa Blades is a Project Manager at Libraries Connected, where she leads on the library strand of the Know Your Neighbourhood project. Libraries Connected is the independent charity that supports, promotes and represents public libraries across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. Driven by its members – nearly every library service across these nations – its work empowers libraries to deliver meaningful impact in their communities.

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