Leena’s leading the drive to boost our book lovers

A FORMER Poetry Prize winner from Worcestershire has embarked on a new venture for book lovers from across the county.

Leena Batchelor, who held the title from 2020-2021, has a bold new plan for her next project and is looking for funding to take it to the next level and secure premises.

Born out of an awareness that all communities need safe places, self-published authors struggle to find space in mainstream bookstores, local creatives have few opportunities to display their work, and beloved books gather dust in corners Leena doesn’t want to provide a home for treasures.

Used books in pristine condition are donated to families and communities, some of which have already found new homes over Christmas, with any worn tomes repurposed into fine art.

The proposed store will also provide a community center and safe space for community or individual use and will provide facilities for counseling, counseling and education, with several local charities already expressing a need for this type of space.

Employment and volunteering opportunities are also provided and a social committee is available to provide advice and support for all sectors of the community.

With an on-site coffee shop, people can sit and rest comfortably, with a freely accessible reading shelf, you can relieve the stress of the day.

A place where everyone is welcome, with affordable refreshments or just a safe, quiet corner if that’s what you want.

In the next strand of the project, the site will host various spoken word events in support of charities and events for the annual Worcestershire LitFest and Fringe Festival, which currently have no permanent home.

Already running a program to help British troops deploy through the website – https://scripthaven.co.uk – which is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK specifically for British troops – for the price of a cup of tea or coffee, which is given directly to the British troops when deployed, our service staff are shown how to look after people at home.

A small sign, but one that really boosts the morale of those who serve away from home and are ready to step in at any time to help our emergency services.

Leena has a track record of successful projects, with her acclaimed Commandery Museum exhibition in 2022 leading to a book to be published later this spring and a play, Out of the

Darkness” offered free in 2021 for schools supported by Hollywood Vampires to use their music.

Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/safe-spaces for more.

Email [email protected] to learn more about the project.