Library and Wellbeing Hub officially opened

13th February 2025

The Lord Mayor of Norwich has officially opened our new Library and Wellbeing Hub. The new facilities provide students with better access to learning resources and study support, flexible new study areas, and a new base for wellbeing services, including two new multi-faith rooms.

Students in one of the new seating areas in the library.

New look for the college library

The £1.1m refurbishment, which has been made possible thanks to funding from the DfE Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, is spread across two floors in the heart of the Norwich Building. It has been designed to make key student services more accessible, welcoming, and flexible for students.

The library itself has a more open plan feel, with new seating and study areas interspersed among the sleek new curved bookcases.

There is a greater variety of study spaces to accommodate the different ways in which students use the library – from comfortable seating areas for reading or small group work, to booths for individuals and pairs of students to use for quiet study, as well as a PC area.  

The college’s librarians have a new base at the entrance to the library, making it easier for students to tap into the different forms of support that the library team are able to offer – from advice on using learning resources to help with study skills.

The new wellbeing hub and wellbeing pods for appointments with our Wellbeing Advisors.

Wellbeing Hub and multi-faith rooms

Next to the library is the new Wellbeing Hub, featuring a large, flexible space for wellbeing events and activities and five pods in which Wellbeing Advisors can meet one-to-one with students.

The new space means that the college can offer more wellbeing appointments to students, as well as offering all students the opportunity to attend daily wellbeing drop-in sessions.

The increased space in the Wellbeing Hub also means more opportunities for partner organisations such as the Norfolk LGBT+ Project, Leeway and The Matthew Project to come into the college for appointments with students – in an environment where the students are comfortable and with less disruption to their college day than would be entailed by travelling off site. 

Also within the Wellbeing Hub are two new multi-faith rooms. These are available to students of any faith or none, for prayer and quiet reflection.

On the first floor of the library, a fully enclosed teaching space has been created within the existing A Level Hub.

A further three classrooms have been installed on this floor, including a presentation room that can accommodate up to 70 students and equipped with a 104-inch display screen. 

The Lord Mayor of Norwich Councillor Vivien Thomas cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new facilities.

Official opening

At the official opening, college staff were joined by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vivien Thomas, and representatives from some of the partner organisations the college works with to provide a comprehensive package of wellbeing support to students.

Amanda Addison, whose Young Adult novel Looking for Lucie has been shortlisted for an East Anglian Book Award, and Julia Groves – both of whom teach on creative arts courses at the college – each shared reflections on their creative journeys as an author and illustrator respectively. 

It was a pleasure to be invited by Principal Jerry White to officially open the new Library and Wellbeing Hub at City College Norwich. 

City College plays a vital role in providing high-quality education and training, from academic courses to apprenticeships. The wellbeing of students is at the heart of the college’s ethos and these new facilities will ensure that all students have the support they need to thrive.” 

Samara Castro, Library and Wellbeing Manager, City College Norwich, comments:

A key aim of the new Library and Wellbeing Hub was that it should be a warm and inviting space that is well used by our students – a hub for the whole of our diverse college community.

 

The initial feedback we have had from students and staff has been fantastic. We have seen a lot more students coming in to use the library and making use of its study spaces in different ways, depending on what they are working on. The new layout has also made it easier for students to access help from our library team when they need it.

 

The refurbishment has also increased our capacity to offer wellbeing drop-ins and appointments to students who need to access the amazing support offered through our Wellbeing Advisors, as well as specialist support from the many partner organisations we work with.”