The innovative project has transformed the classic British symbol into a contemporary tool, offering access to books for people of every age and background...
The Watford Gurdwara (also known as Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Watford), a centre dedicated to building strong ties with the community both Sikh and Interfaith, has created a free phone box library for the town, after being awarded £12,000 from Watford Borough Council's Neighbourhood Grant programme.
The innovative project has transformed the classic British symbol into a contemporary tool, offering access to books for people of every age and background. Tesco Watford will generously be backing the project by providing a regular supply of second-hand books at no cost, guaranteeing a varied and regularly updated collection for the phone box library users.
To ensure continued accessibility and value to the community, members of the Gurdwara have committed to maintaining the phone box library. Operating hours will align with those of the Gurdwara, from 7am to 9pm daily, and volunteers will also clean both the interior and exterior of the phone box regularly, upholding a safe and inviting space for all visitors.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “"We are thrilled to support the Watford Sri Singh Sabha Gurdwara in helping to create a free phone box library for our town. This project exemplifies the spirit of community engagement and inclusivity, providing access to books for people of all backgrounds.
“We commend the Gurdwara's commitment to maintaining this valuable resource, and we are grateful to Tesco Watford for their generous contribution, ensuring a diverse and regularly updated collection of books."
Herjit Gill, Trustee of The Watford Gurdwara, said: “Amit Bansal of Accountants For Good, our Chartered Accountant who successfully established a previous phone box Library in 2013, has provided inspiration for this endeavour.
“His success demonstrates the transformative potential of such initiatives and serves as a testament to the power of community-driven projects, including ones that help create a vibrant atmosphere of reading and community involvement. Thank you to the council for helping bring this project to life.”
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant will be in 2025. To find out more, including this year’s projects, please visit www.watford.gov.uk/community. The programme funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from developers of new housing, operates annually to mitigate the effects of development and enhance the local community's sustainable growth.
