Libraries across Worcestershire are widely used by community partners as a venue to deliver their events and activities. From Job Fairs to Vaccination Clinics, libraries are uniquely positioned to reach a diverse community audience.

Catherine Thomas, ICS Attraction Lead for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, explains how choosing Redditch Library as a vibrant community venue for an NHS Recruitment Fair, attracted a wide and diverse audience of over two hundred attendees and out-performed other recruitment events held in the region.

Catherine’s Story

"We were determined not to focus our efforts solely around Worcester," said Catherine Thomas. "Redditch library is such a great space because it attracts a mix of people throughout the day. It’s a community hub that draws individuals from all walks of life, which is exactly what we needed to address health inequalities in the region."

"We had just over 200 people attend, which completely exceeded my expectations," Catherine remarked. "To be honest, I was blown away. We had more people at this one event than we did across two events held in Worcester. The response was incredible, and it was clear that the library was the perfect place to host it."

"The large space at Redditch Library worked really well for us. It allowed us to accommodate everyone comfortably and create a relaxed atmosphere where people could feel at ease asking questions about NHS roles.

“From the start, the library manager was incredibly supportive. I visited the venue the day before, to check everything, and the staff had gone above and beyond to ensure it was all set up. Their attention to detail made a huge difference, and it was clear that they were fully committed to helping us make the event a success,"

"The support from the library staff was fantastic, and having other services, like the job centre, in the same building made it even more convenient for attendees. It’s a great example of how libraries are evolving to support a wide range of services, and it’s something we’re really excited to be a part of."

"Looking ahead, this event has been a catalyst for more collaboration with libraries. We’ve seen first-hand how beneficial it is to hold events like this in library spaces, and we’re already planning to hold similar recruitment fairs in other libraries across the county. The partnership between the NHS and libraries has proved invaluable, and we’re excited to continue working together."