Support for speakers of other languages

It is free to join our libraries and the easiest way is to fill in your details online and then visit your nearest library to collect your card. No ID is required.

Translation resources

• Translator EU: Translation of English to other languages

Books in other languages

We have French, German, Italian and Spanish books available to request from our central bookstore.

We also have dual language picture books for loan and can request free dual language picture books in over 30 languages from Book Trust, for families to keep.

For books in other languages, please ask staff for more information.

eBooks and eAudiobooks

We now have a range of adult and children’s Ukrainian eBooks as well as Russian eBooks and eAudiobooks, via our BorrowBox app.

To use the app, install BorrowBox from your phone's app store. Alternatively, you can use the app store or google play buttons to go straight to the download page.

To start borrowing, select Cheshire East and Cheshire West Libraries within the app and enter your library card number and PIN/Password.

If you are not using a mobile device, you can access the service by logging into BorrowBox.

You can borrow up to five eBooks and three Audiobooks at any one time and place holds on items that are out on loan.

Public computers and access to the internet

It is important to be able to keep in touch with family and friends and so, our libraries offer internet access via their public computers and via library Wi-Fi (library membership is required to use both). Computer access is free, for one hour per day, for library members.

To assist customers where English is not their first language, the webpage default language on our computers can be changed to an alternative – please ask a member of staff how to do this.

The default keyboard language can also be changed to Ukrainian and selected libraries have keyboards, with the Ukrainian characters added to the standard QWERTY layout. Please ask at your library for more information.

English Conversation Groups

We have several of these relaxed, social groups which meet in libraries. The aim of the groups is to build confidence in speaking English and improve listening skills, through everyday conversations. These are ideal for speakers of other languages. English conversation groups currently take place at:

• Chester Library at Storyhouse: Wednesdays, 5pm - 6pm, fortnightly. Held in meeting room upstairs, drop in.
• Ellesmere Port Library: Tuesdays, 11am - 12pm, weekly.
• Lache Library: Tuesdays, 10am - 11am, weekly.
• Northwich Library (relocated to Weaver Hall Museum): Wednesdays, 10am - 11.30am, weekly.
• Sandiway Library: Mondays, 10am - 11am, weekly.

English courses for speakers of other languages

• Go Citizen: this is a library subscription, which is free for library members to access. It's online study resource for candidates preparing for the "Life in the UK" or "British Citizenship" test. It provides hundreds of practice questions in the same format of the official test and is a comprehensive study package of everything needed to prepare for the test. You will need to register to create your own account so you can track your progress.
• Cheshire and Warrington Equality and Race Centre (CHAWREC): based in the Unity Centre in Chester, CHAWREC offers English speakers of other languages (ESOL) a range of classes with qualified ESOL tutors, all abilities are catered for with both accredited and non-accredited classes and one to one support.

ESOL courses are also available at:

• Neston Community Youth Centre (NCYC): Fridays 10am - 1pm. Beginners ESOL, drop in.
• Neston Library: Saturdays, 10.30am - 12pm. ESOL for Ukrainians. Drop in.
• Northwich Memorial Court (Brio): Fridays, 10am - 11.30am, Conversational English. Term time only. Phone 01244 400730 for more information
• Wharton Library: Mondays, 10am - 11.30am.
• English Language Centre: previous known as English in Chester, the English Language Centre is a British Council accredited school, the general English course aims to develop communicating effectively in English - all aspects of language are covered, with an emphasis on speaking and listening.

Support with food

Very Green Grocery

Very Green Grocery is located on Manchester Road, Northwich, CW9 7NS, (in front of TG Builders). Includes Community Shop and cafe: Open Tuesday 6.30pm - 7.30pm, Wednesday 10.30am - 2.30pm and Friday 10.30am - 2.30pm. They have a uniform exchange and also provide clothes, nappies and toiletries.

They also offer a “Time Together” session - a safe space for Ukrainian families and/or their sponsors to come together to chat, cook, shop and be supported. Thursdays, 11am - 2pm, weekly.

Port Grocery

Port Grocery is a community food club which provides high-quality, low-cost food. They deliver to Ellesmere Port, Bromborough, Eastham, Neston, Little Neston, little & Great Sutton, Chester, Elton, Helsby and Frodsham.

Winsford Community Hub

Winsford Community Hub is located on High Street, Winsford, CW7 2AS (the old Job Centre) - open on Wednesdays and includes the Winsford Very Green Grocery which is open Tuesday 10am - 12pm, Thursday 5pm - 7.30pm. There is also a uniform exchange, preloved furniture shop and a cafe.

Too Good To Go

The Too Good To Go app lets you buy and collect this food at a discounted price so it gets eaten instead of wasted. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up. Download the app to get started.

Support with furniture

The ReUse Warehouse

The Winsford Warehouse, run by Changing Lives Together, sells preloved items at low cost. The store, which also has a cafe, can be found in Unit 12, Road Two, Winsford Industrial Estate, CW7 3QL.

Store opening times: Monday - Saturday, 9am - 4.30pm​

For more information email info@changing-lives-together.org.uk or phone 01606 827121 (option 2)

Free online English language resources

• British Council: learn English online using high-quality resources, all the activities are designed for self-study with interactive exercises and worksheets
• Duolingo: provides help with learning English as a second language, the default language of the webpage can also be changed from English to another language e.g. Ukrainian
• Babbel: this resource is offering free access for Ukrainian refugees to language resources
• Mondly app: learn 41 languages from your native language via the Mondly app which is accessible on any device - Mondly is offering free mobile language courses for Ukrainian refugees