Do you have some time to give back to the community on a Wednesday morning?

We’re looking to develop a bank of volunteers to introduce a new Wednesday morning volunteer-led session for Knutsford Library. This follows changes to library opening hours by Cheshire East Council that now means the library is closed on Wednesdays. The aim of the scheme is to enable residents to access library services – checking out books, accessing computers and using the library facilities.

At this stage, we are looking for expressions of interest from potential volunteers to understand if this would be viable.

If you have any questions, please contact Lucy Fox, Community Engagement Officer, on lucy.fox@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or 01565 653 929.

ROLE DESCRIPTION
EXPRESS INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why are volunteers needed to support library services?

As part of balancing its budget, Cheshire East Council has implemented reduced library opening hours across the borough.

This scheme is being investigated to reduce the impact of this on our community and reinstate the Wednesday morning session.

 

What commitment is required?

At this stage, we are looking for people who have some time to give on Wednesday mornings. We’d welcome volunteers who can volunteer every week or less often, for a whole session, or just an hour or two.

 

What happens if not enough volunteers come forward?

We need to be able to ensure we have around three volunteers at all times. If we don’t get enough volunteers coming forward, the scheme would not be viable and will not be taken forward.

Why is the Town Council involved if Cheshire East run the library?

Cheshire East Council approached town and parish councils to offer the opportunity for local councils to mitigate the service cuts. The Town Council decided that it did not wish to make a financial contribution, but would explore coordinating a volunteer scheme.

 

What support is there to volunteer?

We will provide training and development opportunities to help volunteers fulfil their role. We’ll also provide networking opportunities with other volunteers to encourage peer support.

We welcome volunteers proactively providing feedback and making suggestions for how things may be done differently in future.

 

Is it just Wednesday mornings?

Initially. If the scheme is successful and we think there is demand, we would explore with Cheshire East Council additional sessions at other times the library is closed, such as Sundays or Saturday afternoons.