A Novel Partnership: Radfield Home Care and Much Wenlock Library

A good book can be a companion, a comfort, and a window to the wider world. However, for older adults or people living with dementia, a simple trip to the library can become a real challenge. Recognising this, Much Wenlock Library in Shropshire has created a home delivery service run by volunteers, to ensure the magic of reading remains accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of their mobility.

Yet, even the best initiatives can hit practical snags. For the volunteers in Much Wenlock, that snag came in the form of flimsy, unreliable plastic carrier bags. Carrying heavy hardbacks and stacks of novels in bags that were prone to splitting made deliveries unnecessarily awkward.
Fortunately, a chance conversation and a spirit of community collaboration have solved the problem, thanks to a thoughtful donation from Radfield Home Care in Shrewsbury.

A Chance Conversation, A Collaboration, and  a Solution

The partnership began when Richard Belcham, Radfield Home Care Shrewsbury’s Community Engagement Manager, popped into Much Wenlock Library to let them know about Radfield’s new Day Care Centre. Richard wanted to connect with local organisations and learn more about the specific services the library provides for older people, as well as those living with dementia.
During his visit, he met with Karen Hardman of Shropshire Libraries. As they discussed the vital lifeline the home delivery service provides to residents, Karen highlighted a distinct, practical hurdle the volunteers were facing. They were relying on standard plastic carrier bags to transport the books. Not only were these bags terrible for the environment, but they were also fundamentally unsuited to the task. They lacked the strength to support multiple heavy books, often tearing mid-route and making things challenging for the volunteers.
Seeing an opportunity to support both the volunteers and the wider community, Radfield Home Care immediately stepped in to help

Fabric of the Community: The New Canvas Tote Bags

To replace the unreliable plastic bags, Radfield Home Care donated a batch of high-quality, durable canvas tote bags. These custom-made bags are designed specifically to withstand the weight of heavy books, ensuring that volunteers can make their rounds safely and comfortably.
The design is also a reflection of the partnership. Each bag is printed with both the Shropshire Library logo and the Radfield Home Care logo. And capturing the aims of both organisations the bag also features the phrase: “Good books delivered with care.”

More Than Just a Bag

This donation is about much more than just a sturdier way to carry books; it is a celebration of community care and connection. For Much Wenlock residents who aren’t able to easily access the library, receiving these deliveries and the arrival of a volunteer is often a real highlight, and provides crucial social interaction alongside their next literary adventure.
By equipping volunteers with these beautiful, professional new totes, Radfield Home Care and Shropshire Libraries have improved the experience for everyone involved. The bags serve as a visible, moving symbol of the care and thought that goes into supporting vulnerable independent adults in the region.

Karen Hardman from Shropshire Libraries said:

“We are absolutely thrilled with this donation.

“Our volunteers give their time so generously, and to have a local organisation like Radfield Home Care recognise their efforts and provide such a practical, beautiful solution means the world to us.”

Through simple, compassionate actions like this, Radfield Home Care continues to prove that when local organisations team up, the whole community benefits. So, the next time you see a volunteer walking down Much Wenlock’s High Street with a “Good books delivered with care” tote bag, you’ll know that a story, and a lot of heart, is on its way to someone who needs it most.

Care that connects people to what matters

To learn more about home care, live-in care, day care and support for older people in Shrewsbury, Oswestry and the surrounding communities, reach out to the Radfield Home Care team today by clicking here.