The Power of Partnership: 10 Years of the Upper Norwood Library Trust

10 years of partnership. 10 years of community impact.

Last week, we came together to mark an important milestone for the Upper Norwood Library Trust - 10 years of working in partnership to support and strengthen our local community.

We were delighted to welcome Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Paul Valentine, Helen Hayes MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, and Councillor Robert Ward, Croydon Cabinet Member for Parks and Culture, alongside our trustees, volunteers, funders, local organisations, community members and partners. It was wonderful to hear first hand the difference the Upper Norwood Library Trust has made across the last 10 years. The speakers told us of their involvement in the Hub across the years and spoke powerfully about the importance of libraries, community spaces and our unique history of local activism. It was very special to hear the different perspectives come together around one common thread: libraries are so much more than buildings or collections of books. They are places of connection, belonging, learning and opportunity, rooted in the communities they serve.

We were also treated to a panel discussion from Chris Neath, Network Manager - Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network, Joshua Addison-Kelly, Community Organisation Development Officer - Locality, Caspar Kennerdale, Managing Director - ClearCommunityWeb, Simon Higgs, CEO - Calico Projects, Vicki Exhall, Lambeth Holiday Activity Fund Programme Lead and Luke Nunn, Croydon Holiday Activity and Food Programme Programme Lead who were also joined by Helen Hayes MP. The panel told us about their connections to libraries, discussed the infrastructure that makes resilient communities possible, what difference community spaces like community libraries and hubs make for local communities and what we lose when spaces like this disappear.

We were also delighted to hear a unique choir performance by Palace Acappella and a special sing along by Alex the librarian as well as stories from local community members about their involvement across the years and the impact for themselves and their family members.

For 10 years the Trust, working alongside the library service and a whole ecosystem of community partners, has demonstrated what can happen when we don't simply ask, “What services can we deliver from this building?” but instead ask, “What can this place make possible for this community?” 

UNLT has worked alongside local organisations, funders, volunteers, community groups, public services and local residents to create opportunities for people to learn, connect, be creative and take part in community life.

Together, these partnerships have helped the UNLT reach 1.35 million visits over 10 years and independently raise £2.3 million to support local services and community programmes.

Behind those numbers are people: someone learning a new skill, finding support, meeting others, discovering a new interest or simply having a place where they feel welcome and connected.

That is the real value of partnership.

It is the sharing of expertise, resources, time, ideas and commitment that makes things possible, and helps create services that respond to what local people actually need.

We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the UNLT journey over the past 10 years - our partners, funders, volunteers, community organisations, supporters and, most importantly, the people who use and contribute to UNLT.

Here’s to the next 10 years of working together and making a difference locally.