Kensal Rise library campaigners hit first phase fundraising target
Margaret Bailey and campaigners with staff from Daniels Estate Agents who presented a cheque for £2,500 towards the refurbishment of Kensal Rise Library - Credit: Archant
Campaigners fund raising to bring back a community library in Kensal Rise have hit their first £80,000 target.
Friends of Kensal Rise Library (FKRL) have reached phase 1 of their total refurbishment target of £200,000 to open their former space in Bathurst Gardens next January.
The £80,000 target was set to be met by the end of July, a deadline set by campaigners in April.
Margaret Bailey, the chairwoman of FKRL, said: “Our heartfelt thanks to all who helped achieve this outstanding result. Our community should be proud of itself. They show what a community can achieve when they work together.
“We now look forward to working towards our Phase 2 target to kit out the library.”
Funds are needed to fit out and kit out the library space which will be handed over as an empty shell by mid-September this year, by owners Uplift Properties Ltd.
It will let the group start work on fitting out the library space which requires a lot of work including flooring, heating and plumbing.
Most Read
- 1 Victim speaks out after Hampstead machete robbery
- 2 'Predator' acted as masseur to assault women
- 3 Dramatic Dieng equaliser sums up 'crazy game' for QPR boss Beale
- 4 Goalkeeper Dieng nets late equaliser to save QPR at Sunderland
- 5 Brent tenant 'distressed' at housing waiting list change
- 6 Man shot in his heart outside Queen's Park flats named
- 7 Coldplay at Wembley Stadium: Setlist and photos
- 8 New Kilburn mural to highlight borough's cultural heritage
- 9 Harlesden bar's licence suspended following fights and noise
- 10 London among areas where drought is declared
Daniels Estate Agent, which has offices around Brent, donated a £2,500 cheque as well as sponsoring and supporting FKRL events.
Donations have come in from supporters, revenue from events, plus grants from Brent Council’s Ward Working Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Foyle Foundation.
Kyle Clark, a partner at Daniels said: “We are happy to share our success with The Friends of Kensal Rise Library, and even happier to know that this has resulted in them also being successful in reaching their goal.”
The library was first opened by Mark Twain in 1900.
Brent Council closed the branch alongside five others in 2011 to save £1million-a-year.
For more information on donating contact Ms Bailey at kensalriselibraryusers@hotmail.co.uk
