The Learning Library was founded in 1986 with the vision of providing free resources to those with disabilities in the local area. Over the years we have grown to cover all of County Durham. We offer an outreach service to our members, meaning that we visit them in their own homes eliminating any difficulties faced visiting us in the community. We are currently supporting over 500 individual members throughout the county, completely free of charge. Of those, over 200 members have joined in the past year which clearly demonstrates the ongoing need for the service in the local community. 

To our knowledge we are the only organisation in the County which offers this service to their members. 

The resources available from the Learning Library are varied and wide ranging. From weighted items, to dark dens and lights to outdoor activities to fine motor resources. With over 4000 items we really do have something for everyone. 

Over 95% of our members are aged 18 and under, with a high percentage of those being aged 11 or under. 

There are no barriers to accessing our service, we do not require a member to have a formal diagnosis of any condition to join. We also have no waiting lists and are able to complete an initial visit swiftly. Our members have the opportunity to try a range of items that would be appropriate for their needs and we find that a trial and error approach is often what is needed to find the best possible resources for each individual. 

Testimonials

"We are fairly new to the Learning Library, but so far it has helped us to see what fidget/sensory toys might help our children. It's helped to feel like we can access support even without a diagnosis - something I hadn't considered."

"We were going on our first aeroplane family holiday. Due to my sons autism he finds new experiences difficult and gets very anxious. Our biggest concern was the airport and flight as that is something that we couldn't control. We rang X from the learning library and asked if she had anything to do with planes. She brought us an airport discovery box with an airport, planes, puzzles, colouring in and lots more useful things to help familiarise my son and also make it fun. This is a free service and they not only loan you equipment but also pick it up and drop it off free of charge.

My son loved the whole flying experience and definitely wants to go again. Thank you so much Learning Library, it's very helpful for families like us to be able to access this fantastic service."

What are we seeking funding for?

We are seeking contributions towards our core costs. There are a lot of "behind the scenes" costs associated with running this charity, such as renting a storage unit to house the resources, running and maintenance of library owned vans as well as insurances to name a few. We are seeking support to meet these ever growing costs to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the Learning Library.