Trust’s novel idea (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford's Lynefield Mount Hospital's library project will help to get patients on the road to recovery

11:00am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Claire Lomax

A library has opened at Lynfield Mount Hospital to give a boost to mental health patients in Bradford.

It has opened its doors to the occupants of Moorlands View, a low secure in-patient unit for men run by Bradford District Care Trust.

The idea for the project came from the healthcare team at the trust who wanted to create a recreational room and learning environment to support patients’ rehabilitation.

And with the patients, they took on the challenge of renovating the room and providing two computers, as well as a fully-stocked library, complete with dvds, music and computer games.

They worked with Bradford Central Library to recreate a public library, so its users will be able to use community services with confidence and get training to develop their IT skills.

The centre has a wide range of resources including online magazines, films, both fiction and non-fiction books and self-help materials. Some of the stock was given by trust employees through the Care 2 Share scheme. Staff were invited to give a favourite book, song or film to the library along with a few words to explain why they had chosen it.

Simon Large, the trust’s chief executive, led the way by giving up his treasured copy of Touching The Void by Joe Simpson – an account of the author’s battle to survive a mountaineering accident in the Andes.

Mr Large wrote inside the front cover: “To all those who read this book; May you be inspired and motivated by one man’s story of determination and perseverance.”

For one service user the new centre will also offer the opportunity of paid employment.

Catherine Pitts, one of those behind the project, said: “Not only will the resource centre have therapeutic benefits for all users, it will also provide an employment opportunity not normally available to this group of people.”

The trust’s acting chairman, Mike Smith officially opened the new centre. He said: “I hope this fantastic facility is used extensively.”