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A draft version of the results of the meeting: Gobowen Library Meeting Tuesday 19th of May 2015 Round Table Discussion Tables were asked to discuss the following outline guiding questions and pointers: Question 1: Business Planning – How could the library change to meet the demands of library users? Question 2: Role of volunteers – What role could volunteers play in supporting the future provision of Gobowen Library? Question 3: Role of partner organisations- What role could partner organisations and stakeholders play in supporting the future of Gobowen Library **There were 6 tables and between 45-50 people in attendance **The crude responses are included below TABLE 1 Q 1 Already lots going on in the library Language courses (college) Reading Groups Post Office Tourist Information Police Surgery Local history/sessions/info Parish Council Surgery CAB Outings and friendship groups Knitting/Craft Exhibitions/ church groups/school projects/scouts/youth group Q 2 Refreshments Local Knowledge -what’s on diary CAB/post office Speakers Q 3 Info Drop In Credit Union Increase the space/increase the range of possibilities TABLE 2 Q 1 Meeting space and use of kitchen Evening services- time to listen, community group usage Book clubs – children’s, teenagers and support curriculum Local exhibitions – arts/crafts/school Information about what is going on Dedicated ‘quiet’ times Expand sessions for under 5’s to weekly mornings and afternoons Reach out to outlying schools Re- organise layout for more flexibility Self- help group meetings Occasional stalls/sales for food/ crafts people/ volunteer/community groups Local interest stalls Educational advice to parents Supporting school curriculum Q2 Residents should be key players in management committee ( possibly elected by users) Residents should be key players in the set up process not just involved after Volunteers facilitating book clubs Volunteers facilitation time to listen Volunteers facilitating under 5 sessions Volunteers to support longer opening hours- even if only for a few hours e.g. until 6pm Q3 Concerns over confidentiality issues for health and well-being Derwen –possibility of volunteers TABLE 3 Q 1 Credit Union Housing Information Local History Health information e.g. dementia Ordering Books Councillor surgery Police surgery IT Training and support Children’s clinics/ health visitors Post office/post office Parish clerk Wi-Fi Small local business support CAB Age Concern WEA or WNSC Food Bank Events better supported if advertised in the parish council and roundabout magazine Q 2 Home library service IT support Q3 Health Face to face job centres Inoculations and baby weighing Coffee /tea Workers education association TABLE 4 Q 1 Library should be alongside the shop or leisure facilities to open up further use People unable to use IT and are afraid- support Limited space- poses a huge problem Use big local money etc. to build a larger and more permanent building on that site Move post office into the library building and combine Station building as new location? ( will soon be more central due to new building on edge of village) Access- problematic /lift needed Coffee shop Toilet facilities Library very important now bus is less request and stops at 6pm Police- weekly surgery Library in gobowen essential – access to Oswestry impossible for elderly people Clubs- more space- space could be made more flexible with shelves on wheels to make it viable for other groups Exterior of current building- could it be expanded- long term plan. Library plays an important role for people who don’t have internet access Q 2 Working age people are almost all too busy in this area Where will volunteers come from? Concerns that gobowen library only has a future if it is run by volunteers Skilled work- training wold be required- what would the cost be? Not everyone sees themselves as a volunteer – they just do things for their community Some lack confidence and skills that might inhibit this Q 3 Concerns over another organisation running the library- if they leave there will no longer be any funding for the service Every time contract is renewed lots of upheaval No funding for new books E-books not useful to everyone Fears that the library will not remain free service- not everyone can afford to pay and those who need it most can’t afford to pay Importance of opportunities to develop skills in a designated place Writing class Book club- especially for children – follow Booka’s example Half term event to show it is a place for young people - space dependent – puppet shows Practical advice on aids and adaptions Drop off point for equipment which needs to be returned e.g. crutches, Zimmer frames Other organisations in Gobowen are very distinct but community diary at library would be very useful Health service plans for community hubs to offer advice- should be more of them but not enough health professionals – the community can only do so much Library foyer – space could be better utilised Flu clinics- social care advice- fewer home visits Citizen’s advice bureau – Oswestry is too far for some people. TABLE 5 Q 1 Welfare benefit advice Housing advice UC claims Job searches Increase in revenue- room hire/charges Carers group/archive corner/memory lane/mornings and meetings Homework club- numeracy/literacy support Craft activities Skills swop Book club/writers club WI Police Surgeries Increase opening hours- evenings Q 2 Draw on their skills Work experience Social skills/ meeting people NEET volunteering Job centre college Event organiser- fayres/fetes Volunteers- take library service to new users e.g. Vicarage and Meadowbrook Admin/ fundraising Q 3 Services brought by partner agencies management committee- made up of partners share staff resources of partners to facilitate longer opening hours financial support to TABLE 6 Q 1 Sharing with other community groups (cubs) to support each other’s long term sustainability by coming together more. Also brings different user groups and age ranges More organisation’s involved the more viable long term Derwen- very organised – they should definitely be involved The library is important to keep the community together ( big society) Long term – should the library move – the pavilion, the Trumpet, the station, the warn out building near the roundabout – central locations Training and increased learning Use of computers more – particularly useful when yours is not working! Local functions Coffee machine- bring in revenue Exhibition area/local artists/ bring a different audience in Time to listen Social events More marketing and signage CAB Joint diary so everyone working together much more and supporting one another TIC point with station and attractions so near- by- another reason for central location Q 3 Health sessions and partners- could bring in additional funding Businesses – again could bring in finance from rental space Help the aged- coffee mornings Post office- need to bring this in as part of a community hub/joint partnership New housing developments – direction of the village changing – new housing partners and potential for CIL to be invested into a community hub centrally Internet café/silo model Drop in sessions/police surgeries Share schemes ( shared services and access) Q 2 Still need to have a specialist to support volunteers otherwise it becomes self- defeating Duke of Edinburgh sessions/volunteering Could it become an accredited centre- rather than informal volunteering set up Fundraising –join with other groups to fundraise- a bit of a gobowen together group Ownership by volunteers difficult Coffee shop could be ran by volunteers to bring income in Improving health through volunteering Local people will fundraise so long as the money is being given to something local. Invite coop to support. COMMENT /SUGGESTIONS/QUESTIONS CARDS Keep /expand computer provision Council meetings If it isn’t broke don’t change it Could you please send me a copy of the PPT – the Oswestry Equality Group sees itself as the watchdog for the Oswestry District How much is the consultation costing? Where has that money come from? Coffee shop Subject of available space needs to be addressed before taking on more clubs/meetings etc. Volunteers possible for helping – will need support training Absolute clarity on long term contract- so that the building remains a library and not taken over completely. Is it possible to change the time of the mobile library please (alternate Tuesdays) from 10:30 to 3:30 when children come out of Selattyn School – so that children get to use the library plus the mums. We are very fortunate to have a very good librarian in Olwen. We do not want to lose her and hope she will continue to steer the library through its changes.

The future of library services in Gobowen will be discussed at a special meeting on Tuesday 19th May at 7pm at All Saints Church Hall, Gobowen. For further information please contact Corrie Davies, Shropshire Council Community Enablement Officer on 01691 677306 or via email at corrie.davies@shropshire.gov.uk

For those of you who have never voted before, it's easy! Last month you will have received a white Poll Card in the post addressed to you and giving details of your local Polling Station (probably a local community centre, village or town hall). You don't need to take this card with you when you vote. Just go to the station printed on the card. There will be 2 or 3 people manning the station. Your name and address will be asked for. Give them these details and they will mark you down on a list of potential voters. I number from the list will be read out loud and noted onto another list. You will then be given a ballot paper with a list of candidates (see above), with details of the party they represent. Take it to one of the polling booths and use the pencil provided to put an "X" in the box next to the candidate you approve of. Fold the paper in two and post it in the ballot box (usually a black box the size of a recycle bin but sealed and with a slit in the top). The ballot box will be close to the people manning the station. Then you're done. The whole process takes 5 minutes tops, but depends on how many people are voting. Polling Stations are open from 7am to 10pm (with no breaks).

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Shropshire Council Youth Commissioning – Youth Activity Providers Event 5pm Tuesday 3rd March, Council Chamber, Castle View, Oswestry Shropshire Council will no longer deliver youth provision directly in the future. Instead, it will allocate funds through the Local Joint Committees to support youth activities and deliver the following outcomes: Ensure all children and young people are safe and well looked after in a supportive environment Narrow the achievement gap in education and work Ensure the emotional wellbeing of children and young people by focusing on prevention and early intervention Keep more children healthy and reduce health inequalities Local LJC area’s also have local Outcomes that have come from the analysis of the local information. These will be shared at the event. Funding for provision of youth activity has been allocated to LJC areas, using an index for specific youth-related need. Money is available to Oswestry Town, Gobowen, Selattyn & Weston Rhyn and Oswestry Rural LJC’s. As an interested party and a current deliverer of youth provision in Oswestry & District/Shropshire, we would like to invite you to attend a Providers Event. The event will take place at 5:00pm on Tuesday 3rd March in the Council Chamber, Castle View, Oswestry, SY11 1JR. The aim of the event is to ensure that local Councillors gain a greater understanding of the providers available in Oswestry & District/Shropshire, who can deliver high quality youth provision and build sustainable capacity in the community for future activities. You will have the opportunity to contribute your knowledge in order to help shape the development of future youth activities. You will also be updated on what funding is available, and the timetable for youth commissioning in the Oswestry LJC’s. If you’d like to attend the meeting, please contact: SteveWhite@shropshire.gov.uk or Corrie.davies@shropshire.gov.uk We look forward to seeing you there. Cllr Vince Hunt – Chair of Oswestry LJC Cllr Arthur Walpole – Chair of Oswestry Rural LJC Cllr Robert Macey – Chair of Gobowen, Selattyn and Weston Rhyn LJC

Re. photos: Someone is either very tall or they have control of a drone.