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Published 8th June 2023
An exciting new £741k educational facility in Stapleford will open on 17th June, followed by an official launch and Discovery Day on 24th June between 9.30am and 12.30pm. As well as the official unveiling by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Vice Chairman, Richard Butler at 10.30am, local residents will have the opportunity to take a look around, find out more and have a go at some of the learning opportunities and library activities that will be on offer.
The Stapleford Library and Learning Centre is one of six regeneration projects being funded by the UK Government through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund.
Stapleford Library, owned by the County Council, and run by Inspire closed in February to be remodelled, creating more space for new entry level skills education and training, allowing residents with little or no formal qualifications to take their first step, within their local community, on their lifelong learning journey.
Inspire, which delivers culture, learning and libraries on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, aims to support up to 1,000 local people with new skills over the next three years as well as providing community and family learning opportunities.
The reconfiguration has been delivered by Inspire with the Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE formed in 2016 to support and develop their property portfolio.
Phase one has created three new training rooms and an updated library layout which accommodates the same amount of book stock as well as computers, floor space for children and exhibitions.
Phase two will aim to update the façade of the library building. Designs and timings will be shared with the public as the project progresses.
Local residents are invited to discover the new facilities and enjoy the official opening with ribbon cutting and cake on Saturday 24th June at 10.30am. There will be a host of activities on offer between 9.30am and 12.30pm with a chance to meet Inspire Adult Learning tutors, have a go at a number of activities, win prizes and more;
· Meet the tutor - Find out more about our Access to Health and Social Care course
· Brand v own brand - Supermarket price comparison activity plus a chance to win the grocery items!
· Have a go - Get online, create a poster or practise your balance in our yoga activity.
· Children’s activities – recycled crafts and write/draw what you’ve missed while we’ve been closed.
· Have your say -let us know what you’d like to see on the learning and library programme and be in with a chance to win a £50 Morrisons voucher!
Inspire Adult Learning will launch their programme of courses with the Stapleford Summer School in August. The FREE courses on offer include Arts and Crafts, Health and Wellbeing and IT and Digital Skills courses. September will see the educational facility in full swing with the launch of the Inspire Adult Learning Autumn term with a range of courses in many subjects and the chance to achieve recognised qualifications.
Regular library events such as Rattle, Rhyme and Roll and Job Club will be reinstated along with other events including Health Information Week and the Summer Reading Challenge in July.
“Local people told us through our Towns Fund engagement that they wanted more opportunities for learning and developing skills. We’ve worked hard to find the best way to create this within the local community and I’m delighted to see Stapleford’s brilliant new Library and Learning Centre open, exceeding our expectations with a modern, fit-for-purpose building that I know will help change the futures of many local people.”
“I was delighted when our work to ensure Stapleford was awarded the Towns Deal from the Government came to fruition and was determined that some of that money went to skills and training. So, it is fantastic that this has now been achieved with the opening of the Stapleford Library and Learning Centre. It is my hope that constituents in Broxtowe utilise the plethora of new opportunities that the Centre will bring. I look forward to hearing, what I am sure to be many, success stories.”
“I can’t wait to welcome residents of Stapleford to the brand-new Library and
Learning Centre.“We’re proud to serve local residents and provide the best possible facilities and
opportunities. This new centre will allow the local community to improve their skills and wellbeing on their doorstep.“The facility will provide hugely beneficial access to education for many, with
interactive, informative and enjoyable community and family learning
opportunities that will equip residents with skills, knowledge and information to help them in the classroom, in education and in day-to-day life.“Our ambition for this new learning centre is to be a centre of excellence,
providing a high standard of educational activity as part of our award-winning
adult learning programme.”
“Stapleford Library and Learning Centre is a fantastic opportunity to improve education and learning for local residents to fulfil their learning and earning potential. We are delighted that we can provide three new learning spaces without compromising the library offer. We hope the new facilities will attract users new and old to use the space whether it be for learning, borrowing books, events or community use.”
For more details about the Stapleford Towns Fund visit broxtowe.gov.uk/staplefordtownsfund, watch a short video on YouTube – search for ‘Stapleford Towns Fund – Library Learning Facility’.
Visit inspireculture.org.uk/Stapleford for information on the new facilities, events and courses. Anyone interested in staying up to date with learning opportunities can follow Inspire Stapleford Library and Learning Centre on Facebook and sign up to receive Learning – News and Events emails at inspireculture.org.uk/emails.
