The Culture Library: A Place to Belong in Newcastle
The Europe Challenge is an annual programme sponsored by the European Cultural Foundation and partners. It brings together libraries and local communities to tackle Europe’s key social, digital, and green transitions through creative, community-driven solutions. This year the West End Refugees Service is thrilled to have teamed up with Newcastle Libraries to launch the The Culture Library!
Newcastle is a city that’s always changing and growing. As more people from around the world make it their home, we have a chance to build an even more vibrant, diverse community. But for many newcomers—especially refugees and asylum seekers—settling in isn’t easy.
Learning English, finding housing or healthcare, and getting online can all be real challenges. Many people also feel isolated when they don’t see their languages, cultures, or stories reflected around them. In fact, almost 4 in 10 children from ethnic minority backgrounds say they don’t see themselves in the books they read which is why we need The Culture Library.
What is The Culture Library?
The Culture Library is a partnership between Newcastle Libraries and the West End Refugee Service (WERS). Most importantly, it has been shaped with refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and local residents—not just for them.
Here’s what it does:
📚 Practise English sessions – friendly groups where people can improve their speaking skills, build confidence, and get signposted to services like healthcare, housing, and digital support.
🎶 Cultural activities – book groups, storytimes, music and art sessions that celebrate different traditions and help reduce social isolation.
🌍 More inclusive collections – participants help choose books in multiple languages, so library shelves better reflect the lives and cultures of everyone in Newcastle.
Why it matters
The Culture Library is more than just learning English or borrowing books. It’s about creating spaces where people feel they belong.
Newcomers can build friendships and confidence.
Families can find books in their own languages and stories that reflect their cultures.
Local residents can connect with new neighbours and discover different traditions.
By listening to people with lived experience, the library is becoming a place where everyone—old and new—can feel welcome, represented, and supported.
Looking ahead
The Culture Library is just getting started, but the vision is big: a city where libraries aren’t just buildings with books, but safe, creative, and inclusive spaces for all communities.
Because when people feel seen and connected, we all thrive.