Community spirit

No one can fail to have been moved by the heartbreaking scenes of the war in Ukraine. When the Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched in March, Cheshire East Council, like other authorities, started planning how to support the refugees and their sponsors. Library staff in Cheshire East have been answering council queries for a number of years, so are well-positioned to help and were immediately involved in the strategic planning. Because of their high profile within the authority, libraries were identified as a distribution and information hub at an early stage.

It is fair to say that the situation was, and still is, quite unpredictable. No one could have anticipated the huge number of displaced, traumatised people arriving in the UK. In Cheshire East, the total number of Ukrainian refugees as of 18th July 2022 was 492 adults and 312 children. Cheshire East Council mobilised the necessary support and services and its libraries started to do what they do well—provide welcoming face-to-face services, and helping those in need. But, of course, there was much more to it than this. Firstly, DBS checks had to be initiated for host families, requiring new administrative procedures to be swiftly put in place by library staff. Help and donations for refugees came from many organisations, and library staff assisted with bus pass applications for Ukrainian families. Libraries distributed bags of toiletries and sanitary products donated by local businesses and charities, which were particularly important for new arrivals. Also, new school backpacks filled with stationery, lunchboxes and calculators for Ukrainian children starting school in the area were collected from libraries.

Library staff have been very active in their approach to the challenge and are accustomed to responding to multiple needs in creative ways. All new arrivals are given an introductory letter about the library in Ukrainian. Of course, Ukrainian and Russian books and e-books have been purchased by our stock specialists for different ages and interests, but also Ukrainian-language keyboards have been provided as an option on our Peoples Network computers. By using the keyboard, customers can input characters from the Ukrainian alphabet. This is especially useful when logging on to email accounts or using passwords with Ukrainian alphabet characters. Customers can toggle between the English and Ukrainian keyboards. Google’s auto-translate works on any non-Ukrainian webpage and can be also used on all public computers.

The annual Summer Reading Challenge is very popular in Cheshire East libraries and the resources and materials have been made available in Ukrainian. As well as this, the library website now offers information and links for families, including Bookstart reading guides in Ukrainian for pre-school children, and a special entertainment and learning platform called Ukraine Unlimited Learning, for students and families. This is a great resource for e-books and e-audio resources in Ukrainian.

Links to relevant library resources have been included in a welcome email sent to host families. This curated list of apps and online resources for learning languages includes a specific link to Babbel, which is offering free access to language resources for Ukrainian refugees. Our Early Years Network recommended free translation app SayHi, which translates conversation fluently, so this is also listed. In addition, with distributed resources we now include a translated “Journey First” leaflet on how to access English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses and get help with job seeking.

Moving forward, Cheshire East libraries are taking up the role of assisting refugees to settle in the UK. Several libraries have held jobs fairs and ESOL assessments. Coffee mornings have been held to help refugees make connections both with other families and with services and sources of help. A weekly get-together for Ukrainian families and their hosts is held and, following positive feedback from one Ukrainian family, the library service is now looking to introduce additional LEGO clubs, after-school gatherings and language classes. In the words of one visitor, translated from Ukrainian with the help of Google translate: “Quiet and cosy place! Very nice. Friendly staff who are always ready to help. Great idea with LEGO club, which children like so much!”

Cheshire East libraries are establishing further links with charities and support groups. A literacy charity plans to donate tablets and books for primary school children which libraries will distribute. We are also promoting access to free data from the National Databank, including free SIM cards and discount codes to Ukrainian visitors.

Cheshire East libraries meet with key stakeholders from within the authority every fortnight for a briefing and review. As services and resources evolve, information is cascaded using a dedicated email address which is constantly monitored, where all services can share and network.

Libraries continue to be at the heart of the community, providing safe, trusted spaces for everyone, whatever their background. Here in Cheshire East, libraries have also positioned themselves as a key player in delivering council services throughout the community. This is becoming increasingly valued and, by working in partnership with multiple services in a strategic way, our influence and reach is growing.