The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge

In one of the most deprived areas in the UK, the challenge facing many people in Bootle is the high level of debt, especially among women and their children, who are often hit hardest. Bootle Library is partnering with Venus – an organisation that champions women’s rights and tackles widespread social problems – to empower women through creative initiatives that challenge systemic injustice. Following an over-subscribed money-management programme run from the library, Venus would like more women to feel able to access help before problems escalate and for stigma around debt to be reduced, particularly in light of the cost-of-living crisis. 

The Initiative  

Empowering local women to help tackle debt problems, this library collaboration is pioneering creative approaches to debt management, transforming its space into a community hub with free Wi-Fi and data. From practical money advice to creative workshops, local experts share practical ideas for saving money. Together, they are designing systems, actions and resources that provide local people living with debt the agency, information and practical skills to make small but cost-effective changes – helping them to regain confidence and optimism, one small change at a time – as well as helping families to regain control over this area of their lives. 

After The Europe Challenge

The initiative felt like the perfect combination of the library being a safe, civic space to have conversations around debt and money – to get rid of some of the shame around those topics – whilst also reimagining the library as a exciting, creative community space. The library found that some participants who visited their local library for the first time, have now become members and borrowed books having taken part in the creative and the debt advice sessions. They know that the library is for them, and it is a place where they can return to and belong. 

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.