Students with learning disabilities to run library

The programme for the library to be community run was started by the now-defunct Northamptonshire County Council

Students with learning disabilities will help run a community library previously controlled by a council.

A project to make some libraries in North Northamptonshire community run has now been completed.

Raunds Library is the final site to be transferred. It will be run as a joint partnership with the Creating Tomorrow Academy Trust (CTAT) and the Raunds Community Library Trust (RCLT).

Kevin Latham, chief executive of CTAT, said he was "extremely excited" about the partnership.

The programme to move the library to being run by community groups was started in 2019 under the predecessor authority Northamptonshire County Council.

Ten libraries across the unitary authority area are now run by community groups, with six others remaining under local authority management.

Raunds Library is one of 10 in North Northamptonshire to be community run

Mr Latham said it gives an opportunity "for our young people to work with the public and develop really important lifelong and employability skills".

The trust runs four schools in Northamptonshire and one in Luton for children with a range of learning disabilities.

Students aged 18 to 25 from Creating Tomorrow College will work alongside volunteers from RCLT to run the site.

Peter Wathen, chairman of RCLT, said: "Raunds Community Library trustees and our marvellous team of volunteers look forward to an exciting future."

Helen Howell, North Northamptonshire Council's deputy leader, said: "With the support offered by the council, which includes the provision of books and e-lending items, computer and self-service access and professional support and training for volunteers, our community managed libraries are able to continue to offer valuable services in their communities."