Suffolk Libraries, the charity which runs the library service in Suffolk, is reminding everyone about the wellbeing benefits of its weekly Open Space sessions. Everyone is welcome at these sessions and Suffolk Libraries would love to see more people joining in.
Open Space are weekly informal drop-in sessions for anybody interested in talking about their mental health and wellbeing, as well as families and carers.
This August marks ten years since Suffolk Libraries launched, and Open Space is one of the most significant new activities introduced during this time. Sessions now run at eight of the county’s libraries, having first started at Ipswich County Library in 2015.
Open Space is run in partnership with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Julian Support, Richmond Fellowship and Suffolk Mind. They run at Ipswich, Stowmarket, Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Felixstowe, Haverhill, Newmarket and Sudbury.
Independent research and feedback from those who attend have shown the significant benefits to people’s wellbeing the sessions provide.
Independent, in-depth research carried out by Moore Kingston Smith in 2019 found that people attending Open Space benefited from improved mental health and social networks.
The McPin Foundation, a specialist mental health research charity, also carried out research into Open Space in 2019. Rachel Temple, research officer at McPin reported at the time:
"I’ve witnessed the impact that it has had for people from all walks of life. I spoke with various people who told me about how Open Space has changed their life. For them, simply knowing that Open Space is there, every week, at the same time and at the same place, makes a real difference. When you are lonely and isolated, there are not always readily available places to go. Open Space is special because it is readily available, every week, to anyone who wants to join in."
More recent research by the University of Suffolk has also revealed the positive impact that Suffolk Libraries’ activities like Open Space have on people’s wellbeing.
Open Space aims to provide an open and welcoming environment of discussion and activity to help adults with their personal wellbeing. People can just ‘show up’ with no need to be referred or to register. Discussions can be around any topic which those coming along think may be helpful in enabling them to reflect on their wellbeing and making possible changes. There are also a series of fun and engaging activities for participants to enjoy.
Jane Cox, Suffolk Libraries Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, said:
“Our libraries are ideal places to host these activities. They’re safe, welcoming and friendly spaces in the heart of the community and provide a great place for people to talk about their own health and wellbeing or anything they want to. It’s a great place to make friends, find out what else is going on in the community and if someone does need additional help with a health issue, our staff and the partner organisations involved in Open Space will know who can help. We’ve had some brilliant feedback about what people get from them and would love to see more people attending and benefiting from what Open Space offers.”
Timetables of discussions and activities are built from suggestions from the participants themselves and the sessions provide a relaxed and informal opportunity to listen, chat and think. There’s no need to sign up, you can attend as often or as little as you like, and you can feel free to come and go during sessions.
Other comments by people who have attended Open Space:
“Open Space made me feel more independent and makes me feel not alone.”
“Open Space is my Friday and gives me structure and routine. Even weeks where I don't feel like taking part, just being able to come here is comforting.”
Last year there were over 1,400 Open Space sessions in libraries and a further 3,000 other events and activities supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Open Space sessions run weekly in the following libraries:
