A leading poverty expert has praised Worcester’s Hive Library in her latest book, describing it as an innovative model that shows how public services could be re-imagined.
Joanna Mack
In her latest book, Impoverished: How to Fix Britain’s Poverty Problem, pioneering author Joanna Mack examines the high levels of poverty which have become embedded in the UK.
In a chapter examining work that is already being done across the UK, Joanna writes that Thie Hive is ‘driven by an ethos of inclusivity’ and calls it an ‘imaginative centre of learning for people of all ages.’
Speaking after the recent launch of the book, she said: “We often think of poverty in terms of income, but it’s also about what services and opportunities people can access. When high-quality public services decline or become harder to access, that deepens inequality.”
“What somewhere like The Hive does,” she added, “is open up those resources to everyone, making the university part of the community and giving people access to learning opportunities they might not otherwise have.”
Joanna said: “It’s absolutely critical to bring people together; especially at a time when society feels divided. Shared spaces and shared services help to break down those barriers.”
Opened in 2012 by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Hive remains the only fully integrated public and university library in the UK.
“Universities play a critical role in places like Worcester,” said Joanna. “They draw people in and act as a major boost to the local economy, and the more they are open and part of the community, the more they’re understood and appreciated.”
Speaking about her book, Impoverished, Joanna said: “It’s aimed at people who want to see a better Britain, and one that works more effectively for everyone who lives here. Although it’s about poverty, it’s really about the wider things that affect all our lives, particularly the decline of services and how important they are.”
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester, said: “According to Ofsted, teacher training at Worcester is exceptional as well as officially ‘outstanding’. One of the features which makes The Hive so uniquely valuable is that children, parents, grandparents and guardians have full access to the University’s extensive collection of teaching resources, to help children learn about everything ranging from the natural world, through to arithmetic and spelling, to the religions of the world.”
He added: “The children’s library is an inspiring facility, and it is wonderful that it is so well used by so many helping to share education and human understanding from the early years of life onward.”
Impoverished: How to Fix Britain’s Poverty Problem, is available in book shops and online now.
For more information on The Hive library, visit the website.
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk
