Community services and library needs assessment

We consult with residents about our multi-service centres, community centres and libraries so that they provide the right kinds of services for their local neighbourhoods.

Modernising our community services and libraries

Leicester’s multi-service centres, community centres, and libraries play an important role in our local neighbourhoods.

They promote health and wellbeing, bring communities together and provide places for people to meet.

They help residents with books and reading and with study and learning. They support people to access information and digital services and provide cultural events and creative activities for children and adults.

However, we know from your feedback that the way people use our multi-service centres, community centres, and libraries is changing. We also know that many people don’t currently visit any of our multi-service centres, community centres and libraries, or are unaware of the services that they offer.

Rising costs and cuts to government funding also mean that we must invest carefully in our services to get the best value for money for our residents.

That’s why we need to ensure the services provided are modern, efficient and fit for purpose for years to come.

What have we done?

We undertook a public engagement exercise in the second half of 2023. From July to September 2023 we ran a survey and talked to focus groups to find out what your priorities for our multi-service centres, community centres and libraries might be in the future, whether you currently visited them or not. We received 2,340 responses to the survey along with 511 responses to our young people's survey. In addition, over 80 people attended 12 focus groups to give us feedback.

We've looked at every response and input from the focus groups and the surveys and have produced two reports, which are attached below. The public engagement report has been produced by our research consultants, Activist, and focuses on the responses from our survey and focus groups. Leicester City Council’s Neighbourhood Services team have produced a secondary research report which focuses on service performance.

What happens next?

Based on what you've told us we will follow up in early 2025 with some proposals that we will ask you to comment on as part of a formal public consultation process, to include public meetings.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email [email protected]