Dear Volunteer,

We hope this newsletter finds you well.  

We also hope that you've had an opportunity to catch up with our news in the latest customer newsletter.

You may have seen:

• Information about our new website and our Love Reading pages.
• Our resources for people living with dementia.
• Information about workshops for family and local history.

As part of our Cost of Living response, West Sussex Libraries will be providing Essential Toiletries Kits for residents who might benefit from them. The Essential Toiletries Kits will contain shampoo, body wash, roll on deodorant and toothpaste, which will all be in a brown paper bag. Adults and children’s toothbrushes will also be available for people to add to the Kits themselves, depending on their needs. They will be available from every library and will be on display for anyone to pick up and take away if they would like one. The Kits will be in libraries from the beginning of December, while stocks last.

How does it work?

Essential Toiletries Kits will be available for free in every one of our 36 libraries around West Sussex. All customers have to do is to visit their chosen library and find the display of the Essential Toiletries Kits. They can then help themselves to one, add toothbrushes (Adult or Child’s) and then tick a sheet for our data records to say which group best represents their household.

If you are an HLD volunteer and think that the customers you visit would benefit from a Kit, please let your local library know.

We are also looking for volunteers to help put the Kits together in libraries when the toiletries arrive, so if that is something that would interest you please do get in touch with the library you volunteer at.

Libraries have been identifying how we can support residents impacted by the rising cost of living.

We have always played an important role as a warm and safe space and that won’t change. And we’ve also always been a great place for people struggling financially to come for some help.

We already have:

• All 36 libraries offer an open and welcoming space to everyone six days a week
• Books on a range of useful topics, such as cheap meals, budgeting, job-seeking…
• Computer access free of charge, and support to use it
• Dedicated staff and volunteers to ensure people feel at home
• Enquiry and signposting service that will be more important than ever
• Fun and engaging programme of regular events
• Growing list of partnered activities to support people in need
• Handy extras like free wifi, and space to read, study, and spend time socially

In addition to this, below are some of the additional support measures we've been working on:

• The Books Reading & Culture Team have created and delivered book lists and carousels around key topics
• The Enquiries Learning & Enterprise Team have produced a factsheet for each of the key areas that WSCC have identified
• Several Cluster and Library Managers are looking at setting up “activity areas”, with maybe games, puzzles, jigsaws to engage library visitors
• The Digital Access Team has worked with one of the Lead Managers to create a dedicated webpage on Arena Nova to highlight the library offer and link through to the booklists, factsheets, and a few less well known ways that libraries can help people save money.
• There is a new webpage about to go live soon.

If you would like any further information about how libraries are supporting residents do ask at the library where you volunteer. 

Reporting an accident is a legal requirement under the reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013.

It is also an essential way to measure health and safety performance within services across West Sussex County Council and ensures that any areas of concern are identified and steps are taken to make the required improvements.

Accident Reporting within West Sussex County Council is done via an online accident reporting system.

What do you need to do?

As a Library Volunteer, you should:

• Be aware of the relevant risk assessment for your volunteer role.

• Inform a member of library staff of any accidents or incidents as quickly as possible (including near misses) however minor they may be. The member of staff should ensure that they are recorded using the online accident reporting system.

• Ensure that you know who the designated first aider is at your library.

• Report any health and safety concerns that you believe could lead to an accident to a member of library staff.

• Co-operate with any investigation of accidents or incidents and provide the necessary information to help prevent an accident happening again.

Remember

There are some basic precautions that you can take to avoid accidents and incidents e.g. cleaning up spillages as soon as they happen, wearing sensible footwear, keeping walkways clear of obstacles that could create trip hazards.