Try something new at libraries during Health and Wellbeing Week

Cheshire West and Chester Libraries will once again be offering a wide range of free activities to help improve your mental and physical wellbeing during their Health and Wellbeing Week.

Lots of activities in libraries are planned between Monday 23 to Sunday 29 January 2023.

The Library Service is teaming up with a range of partners to provide something for everyone including Age UK, Brio Leisure, Cheshire Police, Cheshire West Communities Together, Citizens Advice, End of Life Partnership, Healthbox, Healthwatch, and the Road Safety Team.

Healthwatch will be on hand to hear your views, needs and experiences of health and social care in the area, and Brio Leisure will be offering health checks and information about Cheshire Change Hub.

Highlights include:

• Nordic walk with Cheshire West Communities Together followed by refreshments at Blacon Library
• Sing for health and wellbeing with the library team at Storyhouse, Chester Library
• Drive safely for longer workshops at Chester Library at Storyhouse, Frodsham Library, Great Boughton Library, Lache Library, Neston Library and Tarvin Library
• Tai Chi tester session at Ellesmere Port
• Falls prevention advice with Age UK at Frodsham and Sandiway Library
• Make your own bird feeder with Lache Gardening Club and Cheshire West Communities Together at Lache Library
• Music Off The Shelf – an evening of singing and acoustic guitar with Mikey Rivers at Neston Library
• Crafting memories with End of Life Partnership at Ellesmere Port and Helsby Library
• Refreshment, Exercise and Chat - gentle chair exercises at Sandiway Library

Tickets to bookable events are available at: 

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cwaclibraries

Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “There really is something for everyone during Health and Wellbeing Week, find out what’s on offer and try something new. 

“Don’t forget, there will also be all our usual library activities including adult crafts, scrabble clubs, adult colouring, Knit and Natter sessions, family history support, wellbeing coffee mornings, reading groups and rhymetimes and storytimes.”

To find out about all the fantastic wellbeing events visit: 

library events page.

Cheshire West and Chester Libraries offer an extensive range of resources to help raise awareness about mental health whilst also providing access to information that will enable people to lead happier and healthier lives too. 

On the libraries website you will find sources of information and advice from a whole host of health organisations, and support for children, young people and adults.

Councillor Gittins added: “If you know someone who loves reading but can’t get to the library tell them to contact us and ask about our Home Library Service. We work in conjunction with volunteers to deliver books, large print books and talking books to anyone who can’t visit the library.”

All customers can access library services online and it is now possible to join online and use the digital resources straightaway, gaining free access to thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers and eResources.

To sign up and get a library card number, just fill in the online form on the library catalogue Cheshire Libraries Catalogue (koha-ptfs.co.uk)

If you have a library card but are not sure of your PIN/password or need to renew your library card then email: 

libraries@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk

Further events and activities will be added throughout January so please follow: 

Facebook @cwaclibrary 

Twitter @cwaclibraries 

Instagram @cwaclibraries

Mental health and wellbeing resources available:

The Reading Well ‘Books on Prescription’ Schemes help people manage their health and wellbeing using self-help reading. The scheme is endorsed by health professionals and all titles are available free from Cheshire West and Chester Libraries. Many titles are also available as eBooks through the Borrowbox app.

These books help people manage their wellbeing, using self-help reading. It consists of a collection of recommended self-help books for common mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, phobias and some eating disorders.

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia includes a range of books offering information and advice about dementia and normal ageing, support with living well after diagnosis, practical advice for carers, personal accounts, and suggestions for shared therapeutic activities.

‘Shelf Help’ provides 13 to 18-year-olds with high-quality information, support and advice on a wide-range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm, and difficult life pressures, like bullying and exams.

Reading Well for Children is a booklist of expert endorsed reading to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. The list is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.