The Hub, Key’s innovative support concept based in Doncaster, has opened a Community Library for young people who use its services.
The Hub supports young people moving on from care settings towards independence and who live in a Keys leaving care service. Set in Doncaster city centre, it provides a safe space for young people to find help and support as they make their journey to independence. It serves young people living across Doncaster, Sheffield, and Rotherham.
As part of the support it offers, The Hub has launched its Community Library. Stocked with a range of books, DVDs, games, and sports equipment, the Library loans out this equipment to young people who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
Young people have been given “library cards” to borrow the items. There are also games consoles available for use at The Hub and which make up part of the Community Library.
Craig Rook, Regional Manager for Leaving Care North at Keys, said: “The young people we support in our Leaving Care services across the North are transitioning between being cared for in a residential setting to living independently. They often have restricted budgets and so many of the things they might want to do, or try, might be beyond those budgets.
“The Community Library is a great way for them to access many of those things that perhaps other young people, or families, take more for granted. We launched the library with some of the young people who are supported by Leaving Care recently and it was very positively received.”
The Hub is a new type of service model which has different functions including acting as a safe space for young people living in Keys’ Leaving Care services to find support or as a place to meet.
