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Cricklewood Library

Funded on Spacehive 24 September 2017

Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.

Cricklewood Library

Friends of Cricklewood Library 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.

Brent Delivery stage

416
backers
£111,326
raised
funded icon
This project was funded on 24 Sep 2017!

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:

  • continue to consult the community, run events and build momentum
  • install flooring throughout
  • install services: plumbing, heating, electrics, IT, lighting
  • build internal walls, including interlinking acoustic doors
  • create a new energy efficient library and community space

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:

  • host meanwhile event to introduce public, users and partners to space
  • agree builder and set out clear project management and payment plan
  • commission and install library sign and road number sign
  • commission detailed drawings and obtain licenses and permissions
  • commission mechanical and engineering drawings mapping locations of electrics, lighting, IT, plumbing/heating services
  • complete phase I building works, prepare for phase II kit out
  • launch building blog to keep community informed
  • put works out to tender and consider at least three bids
  • Quantity surveyor estimates materials needed prior to bidding process
  • snagging to check problems before completion
  • start building works, monitor project plan throughout, keep trustees and community informed of progress

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.

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

How will the money be spent?Total £113,023

plumbing, drainage, sinks (includes additional drainage) - £11,160 (10%)
Wiring for lighting, AV, IT, security and fire alarms first fix - £10,200 (9%)
internal walls and partitions - £9,600 (8%)
heating and cooling system - £9,600 (8%)
hard floor purchase and install - £9,312 (8%)
suspended ceiling - £8,976 (8%)
fees, licenses and permissions, legal fees - £8,400 (7%)
painting throughout - £6,060 (5%)
plastering, including cladding structural columns - £6,000 (5%)
acoustic folding partition - £5,400 (5%)
Other - £28,315 (25%)

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.

10%
plumbing, drainage, sinks (includes additional drainage)
£11,160
9%
Wiring for lighting, AV, IT, security and fire alarms first fix
£10,200
8%
internal walls and partitions
£9,600
8%
heating and cooling system
£9,600
8%
hard floor purchase and install
£9,312
8%
suspended ceiling
£8,976
7%
fees, licenses and permissions, legal fees
£8,400
5%
painting throughout
£6,060
5%
plastering, including cladding structural columns
£6,000
5%
acoustic folding partition
£5,400
25%
Other Read More
£28,315
  • wood floor purchase and install
    £5,400
  • contingency 5%
    £5,152
  • works coordinator
    £4,800
  • Spacehive fees
    £3,410
  • signage design, commission and installation
    £2,400
  • skirting and architrave
    £1,200
  • interior design and drawings
    £1,200
  • Transaction Fees
    £735
  • sliding doors
    £720
  • doors
    £720
  • VAT
    £682
  • Event, including publicity
    £660
  • M&E drawings
    £660
  • Quantity Surveyor
    £576

Total £113,023

Our Volunteer List

We're currently looking for people to offer skills and time to develop our project! Check out the list of what we need below and then use the 'Volunteer' button to the right to get involved.
  • A Quantity Surveyor
  • artist in residence - we would love an artist to join our team, to help build our creative heart and use their skills to show how the library develops, and help bring out the artist in all the library supporters and users
  • Poet in residence - someone to use words to help describe the journey of the community to bring a library back to Cricklewood
  • we need a social media champion to spread the word about our fundraising, share videos and look after our growing audience

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