HeadSpace
HeadSpace is the library space designed by young people where they can read, meet and volunteer.
We are currently working with local authorities where HeadSpaces are being developed and run in equal partnership between young volunteers and their local libraries. Over 3,500 young people have already been involved in HeadSpace activities. The HeadSpace network is continuing to grow. If you are a library or school considering a library refurbishment or development and would like to involve young people contact Claire Styles for more information.
More than 125 young people have got involved as regular volunteers in choosing books and other stock, deciding how the HeadSpace looks and delivering the activities that go on in their libraries. We are also opening HeadSpace through our Participate programme
"I am doing some volunteering at HeadSpace Folkestone - it's really good because I've also just started doing some youth work and it's helping me with that." Rachel Tubby, HeadSpace Folkestone
HeadSpace provides a model for delivering the national Library Youth Offer and is meeting the urgent need up and down the county for free, safe spaces where young people can take part in positive activities. It gives a clear message that young people are welcomed in libraries and their participation is valued. It's been particularly successful at getting young people who are socially excluded involved.
Sign up
If you are refurbishing or building a new library space in your school, public library or youth centre you can sign up to HeadSpace and get all the consultancy, training and support needed to involve young people.
For more information about how to develop your own HeadSpace download further information from Resources. There's information for public library authorities and for authorities that are already running HeadSpaces. Or contact Claire Styles, senior project manager.
"It's really good that we've got the HeadSpace, because there is nothing to do for young people locally - you would be amazed how many young people come to the library on a now we have got our own space."
Khalid Amin, young volunteer at HeadSpace Haslingden
Other support for young people
HeadSpace is part of our package of programmes to support work with young people.
Anyone working with young people, librarians, teachers, youth workers, education officers, etc, can subscribe to our innovative social reading website - groupthing.org. groupthing provides creative opportunities for young people to read, review, write, listen, chat and create original work.
Alternatively, libraries can join all their work with young people together by signing up to our new modular programme, Participate.
Open (ing) HeadSpaces
The first HeadSpaces have already opened and lots more will follow up until March 2010. Eventually there will be a HeadSpace in (those marked in bold have already opened):
East Midlands
Buxton Library, Derbyshire
Corby Library, Northamptonshire
Worksop Library, Nottinghamshire
North West
Halewood Library, Knowsley
Halton Lea Library, Halton
Haslingden Library, Lancashire
High Street Library, Bolton
Longsight Library, Manchester
South East
Burgess Road Library, Southampton
Café IT, Folkestone, Kent
Crawley Library, West Sussex
High Wycombe Library, Buckinghamshire
Lordswood Library, Medway
South West
Barcode Youth Café, North Somerset
Central Library, Swindon
Efford Library, Plymouth
Hartcliffe Library, Bristol
Lyme Regis Library, Dorset
Melksham Library, Wiltshire
Padstow Library, Cornwall
West Midlands
Chelmsley Wood Library, Solihull
"We'll be there in the library for when a child or teenager comes in - we will be talking to them about books and suggesting books that we think they will really like. HeadSpace is going to make a difference." Sameeha Patel, volunteer at HeadSpace Bolton"
Resources
Reading Agency links
groupthing
Participate
TRF website
External links
Follow HeadSpace Efford on Twitter at twitter.com/headspaceefford
Download files
Contact
Claire Styles, project manager
