Suffolk Libraries is celebrating the success of the recent fundraising campaign ‘Make a Difference with a Daisy’.
The campaign involved creating Suffolk’s biggest daisy chain and has now raised nearly £27,000 to support the work of Suffolk Libraries in the community.
The aim was to create a chain of specially crafted metal daisies to show how Suffolk Libraries connects people and communities across the county.
Spadge Hopkins, one of the featured artists from Suffolk Libraries previous PAWS-itivity fundraiser, created the metal daisy chain sculptures. The daisies were then offered for sponsorship with all the daisies then forming a unique art installation with the daisy chain on display at Suffolk Food Museum, Jimmy’s Farm and finally Somerleyton Hall. Over 50,000 people saw the daisy chain when it was on display between April and October.
Anyone making a minimum donation of £50 was given their daisy to keep and a certificate of authenticity at the end of the campaign.
Bruce Leeke, Chief Executive of Suffolk Libraries, said:
“We’re delighted to have raised nearly £27k through this year’s fundraising campaign. The generosity of so many people and the support we’ve had is amazing and we have so many people to thank for another successful campaign.
“The money raised helps to support vital projects run by our charity like our current Warm Welcome campaign offering libraries as warm spaces over the winter and providing help to those affected by the cost of living crisis. The National Literacy Trust have also just released a report* which underlines the importance of our work improving literacy levels and reading for pleasure amongst children and young people.
“This all goes to show how vital the work of our charity is. The money raised from the Make a Difference with a Daisy campaign will make a huge difference to the work we do in the community making Suffolk a better place to live.”
Suffolk Libraries would like to thank the following:
Special thanks go to former Suffolk Libraries trustee Belle Bradley and her partner Jacob Bathgate for their amazing sponsored Skydive. Library user Tina Boniface also cycled across Suffolk to raise further funds and trustee Dr Bradley Allsopp completed a sponsored walk covering all Ipswich libraries. Together with a Charlie Mackesy book signing event and the auction of a donated painting by mysterious artist known as ‘The Hat’ all these amazing efforts raised £5,500.
For more information about supporting or donating to Suffolk Libraries please visit our Get Involved page.
* This refers to a recently issued report by the National Literacy Trust which shows a worryingly low percentage of children are reading for pleasure in their spare time.
