'˜Check out' a person for a chat

Pupils at the Dukeries college Ollerton take part in a scheme called the Human Library talkig to people as living books from the left are Jonathon Wright Nottinghamshire health care Chloe Shaw and Charlie Froggatt

. — Pupils at the Dukeries college Ollerton take part in a scheme called the Human Library talkig to people as living books from the left are Jonathon Wright Nottinghamshire health care Chloe Shaw and Charlie Froggatt .

‘Readers’ will be encouraged to ask their ‘books’ questions, at the event at Upperthorpe Library, and to get to know the people behind the labels.

Hosted by local social enterprise Zest, the event will attempt to challenge prejudice, stigma and discrimination by facilitating dialogues with a range of ‘titles’ - including a Carer, a Muslim Woman, an Older Person, Asylum Seeker and LGBT Community Representative.

Sheffield coun Jack Scott, cabinet member for community services and libraries, said: “It’s brilliant that Zest is encouraging people to find out more about others in their community through this innovative project. You don’t usually get a chance to ask people things like what it’s like to be older, lesbian or gay, an asylum seeker or to live with a disability.

“It’s through exploring our differences that we discover what we have in common and what binds us together. I’m sure this event will help people gain more of an understanding of others in their community and that’s really welcome.

“I hope people enjoy this powerful event and get something from it. Zest’s Human Library provides a safe environment for people to engage in respectful conversations and I’d like to see more community organisations consider doing something like this in the future.”

The event will be held next Thursday, from 4pm to 7pm and is run by Zest in conjunction with Sheffield City Council, that provides funding for schemes to enhance community development.