Following the success of The Human Lending Library, at the British Library London a second is opening in Manchester.

The Human Lending Library, matches charity and social enterprise leaders with successful entrepreneurs as mentors.  Launched by the charity Expert Impact, the initiative has seen more than 200 leaders of social enterprises and charities ‘borrow’ an expert for advice on improving their organisations and increasing their social impact.

Expert mentors include the founders of Pret-a-Manger (Julian Metcalfe), The White Company (Chrissie Rucker), Carphone Warehouse (Sir Charles Dunstone) and Mumsnet (Carrie Longton).

The Manchester branch is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and will be the first of several new branches to be announced over the next 12 months.

Kendra Walsh, Director of Expert Impact said: 

After proving the model works in London, we are delighted we can expand the reach of the Human Lending Library by making it more accessible to organisations creating positive social and environmental impact in the north of the UK

Social enterprises that have used the Human Lending Library include Change Please, a coffee company that trains and employs homeless people as baristas, Harry Specters, a company staffed by people with autism and OLIO, an app connecting neighbours to combat food waste.

The Manchester branch of the Human Lending Library will be run from the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) at Manchester Central Library.

As well as offering access to industry-standard information resources, BIPC Manchester delivers talks, workshops, demonstrations and networking opportunities, plus one-to-one advice at patent and IP, accountancy, and commercial legal clinics.

Image credit: Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) at Manchester Central Library