I've now been working at the Corn Exchange for over a year and a half and almost from the moment I joined we've been chipping away in the background to make something really special of The Old Library. But now we need your help!

At the end of September myself and some of my colleagues will be flinging ourselves around an inflatable 5k obstacle course for your entertainment and to raise money for The Old Library campaign. I've been training for a 5k for the past few months and so this will be one of my first races after completing the couch to 5k course, albite on a very different (and bouncy) terrain. Expect plenty of videos and photos, and possibly even some fancy dress...

I'm asking everyone I know to donate to help us transform The Old Library into a community hub, to transform lives through the arts.

For those I know who perhaps aren't familiar with Newbury, or want to know more about the campaign, The Old Library used to be a Carnegie library back in the day, before it became a pizza place for a short while, and now it's ours! It's a really beautiful building and we're going to be turning it into a new permanent home for our creative participation work, which last year benefitted 27,000 people! Our creative participation work ranges from dance classes, art classes, drama, singing, yoga and more, and is essential for helping with social isolation; improving mental health and building confidence.