We are over the moon to announce that we’ve been granted £125,000 by the Garfield Weston Anniversary Fund to pay for the finishing works on the library. The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded charitable grant-making trust which supports a wide range of charitable activities across the UK. Established in 1958 by Willard Garfield Weston, the Foundation has donated over £960million, becoming one of the largest and most respected charitable institutions in the UK. In the last financial year the Foundation has donated over £62million. The Trustees are descendants of the founder and the Weston Family takes a highly active and hands-on approach. Over 1900 charities across the UK benefit each year from the Foundation’s grants.

We were chosen from over 2,200 applicants to the anniversary fund, which is completely amazing. Garfield Weston were particularly impressed by our level of proactivity and committment to supporting our local community.

The money will kick start the work that we’ve been dying to do for two years, ever since the building was completed. Now all we’re waiting for is a signed lease, which is in the hands of our landlords, Octavia Housing, and the lawyers. We had hoped to be in by Christmas, but it’s looking like work will start in the new year. But this is a real shot in the arm for the campaign. Thanks for sticking with it guys! Our community’s in it for the long haul!

If you want to be sure to hear about how we spend this money, make sure you head over to our mailing list and sign up. Monthly mailings always include a section on the library building.