In February of 2023 we launched our Community Hub Library, here at Beth Johnson Foundation in Parkfield House, for people 50+ to have free access to reading materials while offering a safe warm space to relax and socialise.
What is the Community hub Library?
The Community library is a place access literature, learning, education as well as a location for vital community activities and services which support the local community along with being a socially inclusive place to come together. 
Our ever-growing library currently contains a range of books from fiction to local history to self-help etc. And we’re always happy to accept donations of new reading material.
The library is a place where you can drop in to choose your next book, stay and read or take it away. There is no fee, and you can return it in a few weeks…
The Community Hub Library Programme
In April, we (along with project partners Older LGBT People’s Group) successfully applied to the Make it Happen fund, run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to run a programme of free community events which supported adult literacy, creativity, diversity and social inclusion.
We are excited, and pleased, to now be offering a series of sessions (July – October) supporting Dementia, people 50+ and Intergenerational groups.
This programme of events is for people from the local communities across Stoke-on-Trent to socialise through creative storytelling.
There are sessions on poetry, creative writing and how to tell a story, along with the chance to hear performances from local poets and storytellers.
All sessions are led by Alan Barrett, a local writer, poet and storyteller who has many years of experience working with people and communities across the city and spreading the joy of storytelling.
As for the library itself, you can check-out books to take home and bring them back and take another, have quiet place to read while also socialising with good company in a warm and safe environment.
For more information or to book a place on any or all of the sessions please contact: [email protected] or call 07507 408372. Places are limited so get in touch asap.
The programme runs from July 13 – October 26, 2023.
**Please note: The Poetry sessions on 19th July & 20th July are cancelled and will be rescheduled**
At BJF we are literacy champions https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/stoke/#
How to donate books: If you have books you wish to donate to the library please contact: [email protected]
(we do take some and will donate surplus to local charity Emmaus https://emmaus.org.uk/north-staffs/
Please continue to visit this page for more, future, information about the BJF Community Hub Library.
Please find the details of the sessions, dates and times below.
Thank you
Adam Gratton
BJF, Senior Project Development Manager
