Skegby Place of Welcome

Just a couple of miles west of Mansfield, Nottingham, the village of Skegby is home to a library that has become a lifeline for its community. Since opening in 1967, Skegby and Stanton Hill Library has always been a hub for books and creativity, but in 2024 it took on an even greater role by launching its Places of Welcome coffee mornings. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, providing a third space for people to gather, make new friends and seek support from its dedicated volunteers.

Held every Wednesday, these sessions offer more than tea and biscuits – they provide a safe space for connection. One attendee shared, “Where I live I don’t see a soul all week. It’s very lonely, but I’ve met all these people. They’ve accepted me… It’s like one big family!” Another added, “My family begged me to come after my wife died. I suffer with depression, but when I come here, I feel better.”

The group has grown alongside the library’s Food Share service, run in partnership with the local Co-op. While helping to reduce waste and ease rising costs, Food Share has also brought new faces to the coffee morning. Volunteer Janine explains: “People that come to Food Share found companionship with the Places of Welcome. There were younger people that would enjoy the company of older people and vice versa. We had a number of people using Food Share where English wasn’t their first language, and they’d come and practice English with the group too.”

A place to share and connect, Places of Welcome is a true lifeline for this community and a valued asset for the library. Tracey Hughes, Library Manager, says, “I’m proud we’re able to offer such an important group. It’s been amazing to see new friendships being forged, with the library at the centre of it all.”

Skegby’s story is just one of many. Places of Welcome groups now run in 26 libraries across Nottinghamshire, creating spaces to share, connect and belong.