Formby Library secures funding for its community garden project

Sefton Council revealed the six new projects to be approved as part of the Community Transition Fund.

The fund was established to assist local organisations in developing Sefton’s communities.

In order to qualify for funding from the £1,000,000 pot, schemes must be linked to the council’s priorities - in particular the support of Sefton’s most vulnerable residents.

One of the projects to be approved was Formby Library Garden Project:

Formby Library Garden Project is part of a major refurbishment programme which is in its final stages.

Formby Parish Council is developing a community garden project which will consist of a growing zone, sensory planted area, story teller area, discovery zone and mini-meadow.

They have been awarded £15,000 as a match funding to help the project progress.

The plans, unveiled by Formby parish council, a sensory garden, story telling area and garden benches.

Following the completion of the Council’s Library Review in 2013, Formby Library was earmarked as one of the buildings to benefit from significant capital investment to bring it up to a good standard for future community use.

A major refurbishment programme is now in the last stages of completion. To enhance this work and bring a new dimension to the residents’ library experience, Formby Parish Council is coordinating the development of a community garden project utilising the unused land at the rear of the building.

The community garden will consist of a growing zone, a sensory planted area, a story teller area, a discovery zone and a mini meadow.

Maria Bennett, vice chair of Formby Parish council, said: "Formby library initially approached the parish council, and enquired about building a play garden for children. The space will be enclosed, so the children are safe and secure. Mums can have a coffee inside the library, while their children play outside. We hope the plans can transform the library over the summer months, and make it more of a community asset.

"If the funding is secured we hope to start work in January or February , with the play area ready for the summer."

Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “It is fantastic to see so many great projects receive vital funding.

“Projects such as the Formby Library Garden, YKids and Venus and Safe Regeneration are vital in creating resilient communities and it is important we do everything we can to help them.

Opening Hours of Formby Library

Monday - Friday10:00am – 5:00pm

Saturday10:00am – 2:00pm

Activities

• Rhymetime, Mon 2.15pm, Wed 10.30am, Fri 10.30am

• Reading groups for adults and teenagers

• Visually Impaired Reading Group - please phone for details

• Reminiscence group, 3rd Friday each month at 2pm

• HUB Chair-based exercises & coffee/cake morning (Friday 10.30am – 12.00pm)

• Lego Club, Sat 12.00pm for age 5 (booking not required)

• Card craft reading group, fortnightly on Thurs 1.30pm-3.30pm

• Knitting and Crochet Club, 1st Wednesday of the month at 2pm – please contact the library

• Family History Help desk, 1st Tuesday of the month 10.30am-12.00pm

• Monthly Talks, 2nd Tuesday of the month at 2pm (please phone for details and to book a place)

• Learn my way/Capture IT individual sessions to ‘Get Online’ (please phone for further details and to book your individual one–to-one session)

Features

• FREE WiFi access

• Community car park alongside the library

• Cycle rack

• The library is on one level with ramp access

• Hearing induction loop at the counter. A portable hearing loop is available for use elsewhere in the library

• Quick-reference section

• Local history collection

• Self-service colour photocopier

• ‘Smartview’ electronic magnifier for visually-impaired people

• Display case together with display areas on the walls. The library staff will be pleased to give you further details if you are interested in booking a space

• Community meeting room, available for hire

Address:

Formby Library Duke Street Formby L37 4AN 01704 874 177 Formby.library@sefton.gov.uk

Other projects that have been approved for the funding in Sefton.....

Sefton Amateur Boxing Club has 75 members and is open five nights a week with six volunteer coaches running it.

It was awarded £20,000 to carry out vital works to the building, including putting in women's changing room to encourage more female participation, insulating gym walls, and refurbishing the office and male dressing room.

Bootle's Pride of Sefton Narrowboat Committee offers free trips to under-privileged and disabled people, and educational trips for the community.

The trips are financed through donations, grants and commercial trips for the general public and £20,000 was awarded to go towards a new boat to carry out trips.

Crosby High Cooperative Learning Trust is a secondary school for children with Special Educational Needs and has 142 pupils on its roll.

In 2010 it became a Foundation School affiliated to the co-operative society, which created Crosby High Co-operative Learning Trust (CCLT).

It was awarded £15,000 to commission a specialist assess pupil's travel and enhance the number travelling independently from home to school.

Safe Regeneration in Bootle has a plan to provide a 40 seat canal side eatery, 12 double ensuite guest accommodation rooms, eight business units and/or artist studios and the hosting of a Canoe hub.

SAFE Stay will offer sustainable employment, education and training opportunities and was awarded £30,711 to cover a shortfall in funding delaying the project's progress.

YKids and Venus target people struggling with difficult circumstances and at risk of becoming involved in, or victims of crime and antisocial behaviour by providing support, information, activities, advice and guidance to young women, parents and families, looked after children and care leavers.

£50,000 has been awarded to the project to cover the cost of repairing the roof.