Transforming local communities and environments

Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
By Friends of Cricklewood Library
Help us transform an empty space into a vibrant social hub for the community, bringing people together with books, big ideas, learning and fun for all. And coffee.
We need to fit out 2,000ft2 of raw space to provide a modern multipurpose library, in an area with no other free facility open to all. The library will have room to host workshops, facilities for homework clubs, craft groups, and activities including ESOL, lifelong learning, dance, music, yoga and skills building, as well as a small cafe. This is a rapidly growing corner of Brent, with a widely diverse population. The library will bring people together, build links, reduce social isolation and give people access to learning, develop skills and work opportunities. This is an opportunity to create a cultural destination, attracting people to the area, promoting access through the cycle quietway, and drawing in people who visit Gladstone Park for sport and leisure. It could revitalise the area, and bring a sense of pride to local people.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
Cricklewood Library will bring the community together. It will be volunteer run - as a dynamic community project. Working together, people will share and develop skills and friendship, and shape the programme of activities, from lifelong learning to fitness, crafts and skills. Working with partners including the WEA, Ashford Place and other community groups, courses such as ESOL, IT, Yoga and CV workshops,will help build intergenerational bonds, work skills, improving health and wellbeing, increasing integration and strengthening the community. Innovative design, creating adaptable spaces, will maximise the impact of the library. Bookshelves will roll away, for film nights and social gatherings, tea dances for older people or supper clubs for all ages. Interlinking and defined spaces will allow the library to run alongside toddler groups, homework clubs and music, dance or yoga.
Steps to get it done:
The community wants a place to meet up and has the determination to deliver this project, after seven years of grassroots activism, we've won a rent free space in perpetuity. We need help kitting it out. FOCL has provided uninterrupted book lending since 2011, at events and through four pop-up libraries, with the support of local groups, including the Pakistan Community Centre, MAPRA, NW2 RA, Creative Cricklewood, Ashford Place. Three pop-ups now run in local stations, with 300+ visitors a week. We've started fundraising, got the support of the Co-op, had a quiz night and lined up some author evenings etc. We're greening the streetscape, improving road safety and linking to the park opposite. Awareness of the environment, increasing reuse and recycling will be part of our education programme. Cricklewood Library is part of a community library alliance in Brent, developing a new collaborative way of working. Funds not used for building work will support future programmes.
Gallery
Location Brent
About the space
A rapidly growing residential area in the south of Brent, near the borders with Camden and Barnet. The nearest shop is a 10m walk away, there's just one bus route, and lots of local primary schools. Gladstone Park is lush and green, it has an outdoor gym, two playgrounds and many dog walkers, joggers and sports people.
Council
London Borough of Brent
Journey
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Transforming local communities and environments
We've moved! To view our latest fund please visit www.spacehive.com/movement/veoliaUK
So we got there a day early with a final pledge of £3k that ended this Spacehive journey – exceeding our target, thanks to you! Hurray to every pledger, for getting us to this point, including yours, Mr Mayor of London and team. Businesses including Coop, Beacon Bingo and Wing Yip Cricklewood Superstore and small but mighty, Munro’s Stores pushed things along. As a small local library we’ve made quite a bit of noise with our mini festival, and of course this success. It’s Phase I, and we’re moving toward Phase II. If you were going to give through Spacehive and didn’t get a chance, don't hold back. ONLINE: use our online donation form http://bit.ly/crklwddonate which includes an option to allow us to collect Gift Aid on your behalf (as long as you are a UK taxpayer), which will increase the value of your donation by 25% OFFLINE: send a cheque payable to Friends of Cricklewood Library, to 116 Olive Road, London NW2 6UU. Let us know if you want to add Gift Aid
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Thank you to everyone who has pledged, once, twice or more - there hasn't been time to email everyone in person, sorry. Pledges large and small have been coming in, along with messages of support. We are so near now. It is hard to properly express appreciation for every contribution, but the thanks are heartfelt. Today the customers at Munro's Stores gave generously, and it wasn't just the younger ones who returned two or three times to put money in the bucket. Talking to people about the library has been the bonus bit of this crowdfunding process - the worst was just now when I could have sworn I saw the site tell me we had zero days to go. It was wrong. One more day to get over £3,000 more in pledges. We will do it.
If all of us who have pledged the library pledge £23.47 tomorrow, we will reach our target. Tomorrow. And we keep the Mayor of London's money. Why Sadiq Khan pledged £40k to Cricklewood Library: The Mayor’s Crowdfund London Programme Part of what makes London special is the jumble of unique, quirky, human places shaped by local communities. Places that are distinctive. Places you want to explore. Places that make you love London even more. This initiative by the Mayor is aimed at creating more places like this – by helping Londoners to crowdfund innovative project ideas on Spacehive. Projects that boost quality of life and the economy.
Whoop, 360 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Total £113,023
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Total £113,023
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