Forest Gate Library has evolved into thriving community hub and Warm Welcome Space

The Warm Welcome Space at Forest Gate Library in Newham, London, began as a local library and service centre and has developed into a thriving community hub. 

‍

The library has served the community for more than 15 years and is deeply embedded in local life. It is open every day and attracts people from multiple surrounding boroughs, not just the immediate neighbourhood.

‍

Its popularity is evident: people use the space for many different reasons, and it is consistently busy. Staff have witnessed children grow up in the library and go on to university, demonstrating the long-term value of a stable, welcoming community space.

‍

Occasional challenges, such as complaints about noise level, reflect not poor management, but how active, well-used, and well-loved the space is.

‍

The library regularly brings the community together through events and activities, a role that became even more vital after Covid, when many residents experienced significant isolation. Although returning to the space has taken time, people are gradually coming back.

‍

A key reason is the shared sense that this is a safe, warm, and welcoming place. People know they can find warmth, companionship, and human connection here. Many attend simply because they want to be around other people.

‍

The library plays a particularly crucial role for older residents, many of whom experience profound loneliness. As one staff member put it “If we don’t support them, who else will?”

‍

The library provides free computer access and free Wi-Fi, which is essential for many local residents navigating digital systems and services.

Regular activities include reading groups, arts and craft activities, exercise classes, ICT drop-in sessions, a chess club, a knit and natter group, Zumba classes, coffee mornings, movie nights and much more. These are extremely popular -  the library has 42 chairs, and at most events, every chair is filled.

‍

Practical support is woven into daily life at the library, and a few amazing initiatives including a free winter coat rail, free tea and coffee, and free vitamin D supplements for over-60s.

‍

One particularly striking story involved a woman who had not left her house for 40 years. Library staff reached out to her, escorted her from her home, and supported her in attending a Christmas party for over-80s, helping her reconnect with others for the first time in decades.

‍

Another woman in her 80s arrived at the library feeling shy, overwhelmed, and deeply distressed. She needed to send a letter to her solicitor regarding a property issue following her husband’s death, but did not know how to use a scanner or computer. Staff at the library helped her, and she became very emotional, eventually sharing that she had been considering taking her life due to the stress she was under regarding the paperwork. With care and consistency, staff gained her trust and were able to connect her with other support services. The library became the place where she felt safe enough to ask for help.

It’s just another example of the more than 6,290 spaces that are registered with the Warm Welcome Campaign. It’s free and simple to register a community space with Warm Welcome; everything you need to know is on this page.

‍