close search

Books, art and music for Forest Hill.

Funded on Spacehive 24 March 2017 Delivered 9 December 2017

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

Books, art and music for Forest Hill.

Books, art and music for Forest Hill.

Charlotte Rose By Charlotte Rose

A fantastic space selling books & records to generate income for the community library scheme. A home for culture, art & the written word. Leaf & Groove will be a new hub for the community in SE23.

Lewisham Delivery stage

214
backers
£19,792
raised
funded icon
This project was funded on 24 Mar 2017!

Leaf & Groove will take a long-disused shop space in Forest Hill and turn it into something wonderful. A second hand bookshop of distinction, also selling vinyl, donating profits to the community library scheme. Not only that, but also an underground lounge space for secret meetings & speakeasies; robotic engineering & art lessons; a writing group & a gin club; board games & tai chi – unbounded possibilities. This shop has been empty for 6 years, everyone is keen to see it turned into something useful, rather than yet another estate agent or bookies. Libraries are inundated with book donations, not all capable of fitting on their shelves. But from their sale great things can be done: more shelves bought & books to fill them, more events for children, senior citizens and those on the fringes of our society that visit daily.Then there is the lounge, large enough for 30, a new home for cultural activities, creativity and learning new skills.

What we'll deliver:

  • Open the ground floor space as a book shop with all profits going to the community library.
  • Totally refit a long abandoned shop on Dartmouth Road.
  • Turn the basement into a community function space.

Why it's a great idea:

We are rejuvenating a disused space and turning it in to a benefit for the community - whats not to like? No want wants grubby old disused buildings just being a waste of valuable space - but this building needs a great deal of love to get it back on its feet. Between us we can create something engaging and vibrant - with events that will reach out to all the community. We have some great people on stand-by - Adam from South East London art rooms with proposals for Blue Harmonica nights; drama workshops; life drawing, and; a speakeasy among other interesting suggestions. Then there is local illustrator Miriam Elgon who has so many ideas they could fill this page and more - art workshops based around making paper theaters; masks; book illustrations; collage etc. Then there is Orlando, a strong example to young people in Lewisham, who is bringing robots into libraries among other enterprises. From fine art to robotics, via drama and books - something for everyone!

Steps to get it done:

  • Refitting the disused, unloved space and turning it into a community hub.
  • Bringing on board a wide range of cultural activities for people to enjoy.
  • Developing the back office space into a meeting room and therapy space.

Rejuvenation of the town centre. The book shop will not only re-open a space that has not been in use for six years, but it will be staffed by volunteers. We hope to extend paid employment opportunities over time and take on apprentices from the local community.

Location Lewisham

About the space

Forest Hill

Council

London Borough of Lewisham

How will the money be spent?Total £19,881

Opening Stock of Books & Records - £5,000 (25%)
Ripping out and replacing unsafe staircase. Replacing damaged ceiling and plasterboard. - £3,500 (18%)
Half of the first 6 months rent. - £3,000 (15%)
New flooring, painting & decorating inside & out. - £2,500 (13%)
Fixtures & Fittings - £2,000 (10%)
Electrics - £1,000 (5%)
Re-fitting & plumbing facilities for users. - £1,000 (5%)
Partition walls, ceiling, glazing & decorating. - £600 (3%)
Film projector & Screen, Fold down furniture and fittings to suit a variety of activities. - £500 (3%)
Other - £781 (4%)

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.

25%
Opening Stock of Books & Records
£5,000
18%
Ripping out and replacing unsafe staircase. Replacing damaged ceiling and plasterboard.
£3,500
15%
Half of the first 6 months rent.
£3,000
13%
New flooring, painting & decorating inside & out.
£2,500
10%
Fixtures & Fittings
£2,000
5%
Electrics
£1,000
5%
Re-fitting & plumbing facilities for users.
£1,000
3%
Partition walls, ceiling, glazing & decorating.
£600
3%
Film projector & Screen, Fold down furniture and fittings to suit a variety of activities.
£500
4%
Other Read More
£781
  • Spacehive fees
    £380
  • Transaction Fees
    £325
  • VAT
    £76

Total £19,881

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.

Want to help?

Do you have stuff or skills to contribute to this project? Use this tool to offer something to the project creator.

Volunteer
{{comment.UserName}} Creator Backer
{{comment.Comment}}
{{comment.Comment}}
{{reply.UserName}} Creator Backer
{{reply.Comment}}
{{reply.Comment}}