We’re really proud to share that Tracy, our Volunteer Coordinator, has been recognised as one of West Sussex Library Service’s Library Champions as part of their 100-year celebrations in 2025. This honour recognises her incredible work leading the Bognor Library Community Garden project.

The garden has been a real labour of love for Tracy and her team. Originally created to promote social connection and the joys of gardening, the space had been left unattended until last year. When Tracy took on the project, the garden was overgrown and in need of a fresh start. Undeterred, she brought together a group of volunteers, local organisations, and community partners, and they’ve been meeting every Thursday to transform it into a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

With funding from Southern Water and a recent £200 donation from Covers in Bognor, the team has worked tirelessly, breathing new life into the garden. Tracy regularly shares updates and photos, and the progress has been transformational in every way. 

Speaking about the recognition, Tracy said, “It was a lovely surprise to be nominated. The garden is a great project to work on, and it’s been wonderful to see the difference it’s made, not just to the library but to the people involved.”

As we look forward to celebrating West Sussex Library Service’s centenary this year, we couldn’t be prouder of Tracy and her team for their hard work and dedication. This recognition is so well-earned. Well done, Tracy!

​Written by Lizzie Senn. ​For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]

This morning, we were featured on BBC Radio Sussex as part of their top story on the rise of tool thefts across Sussex. Our CEO, Sue Livett, spoke about the impact of a break-in at our Aldingbourne Country Centre last year, where over £20,000 worth of tools were stolen.​

The story coincides with a rally taking place in London today, calling for tougher laws to combat tool theft. It was a greatopportunity to contribute to the conversation and highlight how these thefts have affected both our operation and the people we support.

The government has pledged to continue working with the police to find solutions to tool theft, ensure justice for victims, and hold criminals accountable. Parliament is currently passing a bill, tabled by a Hampshire MP, seeking to introduce harsher sentencing for those caught stealing tools.

Since our break-in, we've taken steps to increase security, but the longer-term effects on trust and the activities available to those we support are harder to recover. As Sue Livett mentioned, "It makes people a bit less trusting and will affect the activities they can do."

If you'd like to hear more, you can listen back to the full conversation from 2 hours 19 minutes on Danny Pike's show here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kjrv1m 

Our goal is simple: to guide people to the help they need and create a future where everyone thrives.

​Written by Lizzie Senn. ​For any media inquiries, please get in touch with [email protected]