A real community effort took place over the summer at St Augustine’s Primary School in Tunbridge Wells to give the library a make-over. School Governors and local businesses joined forces and gave up their time to create something rather special.
School Governor Daniela Anderson says “it was so heart-warming that so many people wanted to get involved with the project.”
She explained the issue with the library before was that it was a room used for many purposes, it was at the centre of the school and it was lit with sky lights. According to the Governors the books were in need of updating, the furniture had previously been donated and it was not the inspirational place they wanted it to be, the library was in need of modernising.
The governors decided after discussing it that they just needed to get on with the job of renovating the library and gave up their time to get the project completed.
Before:
Governor Daniela Anderson said “they asked people to help.”
Books were donated by Penguin that reflect the people serving in the school. A school governor who works for Penguin helped source them. It was then decided that the beautiful books needed to be in an appropriate setting. They also donated stationary and decorations too.
Daniela Anderson went to the local flooring shop, Floorsave in Southborough and as soon as she mentioned it was for the school’s library, they agreed to donate flooring and underlay. Even when the floor space was miscalculated more flooring was donated by them.
AXA insurance donated the soft furniture, table and flatscreen and sent two teams of volunteers to help. The Amelia Scott in Tunbridge Wells donated the shelves. Showfields library in Tunbridge Wells donated the kinder boxes.
During:
Governors donated their time, materials, paint and Ian Fowler also supplied the fake living wall plants. Surplus new books were donated to neighbouring Primary Schools and old books were donated to a school in Jamaica, so nothing was wasted.The efforts of local businesses and governors were appreciated when the school opened at the start of the new school year with a stunning library.
Daniel Anderson says “the kids just love spending time in there.” They have little lady bird cushions in there and the children love sitting on them, they put their artwork up on the wall and it is such vibrant and happy room now. The book club on a Wednesday is now over-subscribed.
After:
