Our work supporting communities with their health and wellbeing has been recognised with a national Quality for Health Award. The award recognises the work of staff and volunteers in promoting trusted health information and positive health messages. It also recognises the positive impact of our outreach programme and the specialist support offered by Kirklees Transcription Service and the Home Library Service. Find out more about our Kirklees Libraries first in the UK to win Quality 4 Health and Wellbeing award.

Books for wellbeing and good health

We promote books and information to support health and wellbeing, curating book collections and responding to the needs of our communities.

The Our Reading Well collections have been curated by health professional, wellbeing experts, libraries teams and people with lived experience and are available to help adults, children and families understand and manage their health and wellbeing.

• Reading Well: Children - Good mental health and wellbeing; managing feelings and worries; dealing with bereavement and trauma; and support for living well with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
• Reading Well: Teens - Support for anxiety, stress and OCD, bullying and exam stress.
• Reading Well: Mental health - Information and support for managing common mental health conditions including anxiety and depression.
• Reading Well: Dementia - Books to support living well after diagnosis, practical advice for carers and ideas for shared engagement activities.
• Reading Well: Long term conditions - Information and support for people living or caring for someone with a long-term health condition including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Bibliotherapy

Our bibliotherapy session use books, stories and poetry as a starting point for discussions and are effective in promoting wellbeing and connections. Librarians work with different groups, people living with dementia, carers, those with mild/moderate mental health issues, people with learning disabilities and anyone looking to use books and reading to improve their wellbeing.

We share stories and poetry, trigger memories, verbalise feelings, calm anxious minds, promote mindfulness, connect people through shared experiences, encourage reflection and empathy, spark creativity, process emotions, build confidence and relieve stress and anxiety.

These sessions are delivered in libraries, care homes, community venues, memory cafes and health and wellbeing settings.

We offer interactive book chats, multisensory storytelling, facilitated creative group activity, loanable dementia book bags and a programme of up to six sessions.

Connecting with your community

Our libraries make a real difference to people who may be feeling lonely or isolated. Head to your local library or check the events listings and see what events and activities are on offer. We have walking groups, coffee mornings, family groups, local history groups and family sessions.

We also have lots of volunteering opportunities - a great way to feel connected and meet new people.

Contact us

For more information about our Health and Wellbeing offer, please contact us frontline.services@kirklees.gov.uk.