Our Space is a community centre and library in the small town of Ellesmere, known locally as the Lake District of Shropshire. Housed in the former community hospital, Our Space was created in 2017 to bring together the former Meres day services for older people and people with disabilities, the public library and community access point for council services. The vision for Our Space is of a vibrant hub which enables the community of Ellesmere to live the life it chooses.
Our services at our Space are funded by Shropshire Council who said “we want Shropshire communities to be resilient, to take ownership of issues that are important to them and with the council’s support, develop their own resources to be able to flourish into the future.” In our proposal to manage the service, we said we would “advance local ownership to the extent that our role is primarily one of managing the premises, delivering sound care and library management services and facilitate community enterprise.”
Since opening in 2017, Our Space has quickly established itself as a vibrant community hub with a strong community presence in which local people and local organisations are taking the lead in shaping the way that their centre operates. We are always interested to hear new ideas and requests to enable new activity groups, support groups or community events to develop. The services operated by Bethphage at Our Space include the Opportunities Group for adults with learning disabilities, the Friendship Group for older people and the library services for everybody. Click here for a printable copy of our general information leaflet
Ellesmere Opportunities Group
The Ellesmere Opportunities Group provides daytime opportunities for adults with learning disabilities within the Our Space centre but more often out in the local community undertaking educational, social, leisure and practical activities. Supported by an experienced and trained staff team, the Opportunities Group programmes are based on assessed needs and person centred plans and include occasional treats like our fantastic Meta4Dance workshop. Click here for our printable information leaflet.
Ellesmere Friendship Group
The Friendship Group provides weekday respite and social opportunities for local people with support needs. The experienced staff team offer a range of on-site creative and reminiscence activities and occasional trips out. The building has facilities to enable support with all aspects of personal care including assisted bathing. Click here for our printable information leaflet
Ellesmere Library
At Ellesmere library you can borrow books, DVDs, Talking books, special format books in the Health zone and e-books; you can use computers, WiFi, reference books, a printer/copier, access the Council’s Customer Services Point, find out about your local area, take part in Rhyme Times and Story Times, check for new and planned events, see displays and join in our fantastic events and challenges. We are proud to be one of just two Shropshire libraries open on a Saturday afternoon. Click here for our printable information leaflet.
Creative Community Events
Recent inspiring events at Our Space have included:
- Creative Family Workshops
- Craft Fayres
- Memory Café
- Bridge Group
- Holiday French Classes
- Art Competitions
- Lego Workshop and
- Ellesmere Remembrance Garden
Community Links and Partnerships
Our Space thrives because the people of Ellesmere are engaged and that includes:
- the Friends of Ellesmere Library
- Ellesmere Town Council
- Shropshire Council
- Ellesmere Community Care Centre Trust
- Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative
Recruiting Now
Bethphage is recruiting support workers in all areas at present to enable us to meet the increase in demand for our services. We are recruiting full-time, part-time and casual workers and to our internal agency, BURT.
To find out about our vacancies throughout Shropshire and the West Midlands, please go to www.bethphage.co.uk/jobs
The Library opening hours are:
- Tuesdays 10.00am – 6.00pm
- Fridays 10.00am – 5.00pm
- Saturdays 9.30am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Please note that the Library is closed between 1.00 – 2.00pm on Saturday lunchtime
Room hire
The Library space and other rooms and areas of the Our Space Community Centre are available to hire for meetings or events. Room hire charges start at £5.00 per hour for the 1:1 meeting rooms and £8.00 an hour for larger rooms. The library units are mobile enabling it to become a useful meeting space for larger groups. There is also a commercial kitchen available for hire which may suit a range of uses.
