Explore York Libraries and Archives Annual Review 2022 - Report - Page 20
shaped with you
Volunteers
Volunteers gave
15, 299
hours over
the year
Volunteer
numbers are back to
59%
of pre-pandemic
Your Explore:
making a
difference
Explore’s friends groups and
volunteers are integral to our
vision.
Friends Groups
Explore now has Friends groups at all but two
of our smaller gateway libraries.
Friends actively shape what we do. They get
together for social events, lend a hand and give
feedback, and support us through fundraising
for refurbishments and activities. The pandemic
meant a hiatus in Friends’ activities, but during
2021 fundraising activity restarted with some
groups able to host Christmas events, while
others planned a full programme starting in
2022. A new Friends group launched at Strensall
in February 2022.
We want to thank our Friends for
all that they do for Explore. For the
invaluable connection they give us to
local voices and local concerns, for
their loyal support and advocacy, and
for the money they raise to improve and
beautify their libraries and to support
activities for children and families.
20
Explore Together Annual Review 2021/22
Some volunteers join Explore to gain skills to
get back into work, others want to share a
talent, or just love libraries and archives. We
do not use volunteers to replace our paid staff,
but they are invaluable to help us grow new
projects and enhance the work we do in our
libraries and archives.
Volunteers returned to all libraries from
April 2021 to support the return of in-person
browsing. There were new roles at the
Community Stadium and work experience
opportunities for school students. Volunteers
came back in large numbers for the Summer
Reading Challenge, and gradually increased
by March 2021 to 59% of pre-pandemic levels,
though concern about covid still kept some
away.
In 2022 we will be recruiting more volunteers
and increasing student opportunities. Our City
Hub will recruit volunteers from York’s
migrant communities.
We recognise the importance
of volunteers’ contribution
We want to
to Explore, so we have
thank all our
decided to apply for
volunteers for their
Investing in Volunteers
time and talents
accreditation which will be
and all they give
developed next year and
to Explore.
submitted in 2024.
Work experience at York
Explore has given me some
new skills like punctuality,
people and communication
skills, increased maturity
and being able to work
long hours. It was a good
starter to the world of work
and has increased my
confidence.
Jon our new volunteer is recovering from
a stroke and is taking small steps towards
getting out and about on his own and
regaining a sense of normality, doing
something for himself. He is shelving with
us on a Thursday afternoon. He is doing
great and every week is finding it that little
bit easier and is able to do more. He is
becoming more confident and is starting to
chat more to staff and able to engage with
customers.
Acomb library garden: If you have
a garden and a library, you have
everything you need.
John Gwilliams and his wife Carol are volunteer
gardeners at Acomb Explore. They have spent
many hours lovingly tending the garden so
that it is always colourful and attractive,
and have transformed it into an oasis
where customers can
sit and read or
enjoy a coffee
outside. This
was especially
important for
people who were
nervous about
being indoors
because of covid.
Explore Together Annual Review 2021/22
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