Library And Resouce Centre Project
Library And Resource Centre Supporters (LARCS)
Registered Charity No. 1163092
This page tells the story of the project which was set up in 2014 when the future of Bampton Library was under threat. The solution was to make the library bigger and better, to provide more resources for the people of the town, and to move into the Old School in Station Road (a building in serious need of renovation).
15 November 2016 - Message to Supporters - Chairman's Valete - here
Author Sarah Winman at LARC 15 November
 |
OFFICIAL OPENING OF LARC 12 November 2016
You can read Janet Crabtree's opening address at this event - here
1st October
Thursday September 1st 2016:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
June - Newsletter - here
 |
 |
Above: ...another very happy and successful event - in this instance to promote the Library Summer Reading Challenge 2016 - masterminded by Gen Ottaway and Jo Holdom. Saturday's Giant Peach procession along Brook Street to the Library featuring Roald Dahl characters and cheered on by Bampton bystanders.
June 12: Most scaffoilding is now down and the new roof looks splendid (and has been rained upon!).
Thanks to Project Manager Hugh for update:
To date only the two road-facing dormer windows have been replaced. The others are still being made.
Progress inside .....the first fix wiring has been completed along with the under-roof insulation. Most of the sloping ceiling has been plasterboarded, skimmed and painted. The high level internal studwork, plastering etc at the gable ends has been done as well, because access to these areas will be difficult now the scaffolding is down.
The project is on time and on budget - being reviewed 13 June!
 |
 |
Below - pictures from Bampton SpringFest (Bookstall and Slate-stall), and the splendid new roof.
 |
 |
 |
 |
LARCS AGM - 23 May - info here.
19 April - the old slates being removed from the roof.
12 April - Latest LARCS News - here
LARCS supporters enjoying the start of work on the old schoolroom - and thanks to 'Power to 'Change'
 |
 |
 |
The scaffolding arrives 14 April (The white cat is a sign of supernatural blessing) |
10 April 2016 - Work due to start tomorrow on the old Schoolroom! The photos below show how it looks now.
 |
 |
17 March - Latest Newsletter with news of the reception of funds, signing of contarct, and the start of building work! - here
 |
 |
27 March - 'With Great Pleasure' - an audience enjoys the memories, music, and poetry selections of Bampton raconteur Rev. Tony Grosse. All in aid of LARCS. |
|
4 February - Good News of grant for £150,000 granted to our project - here!
13 January - LATEST here
22 December: VIDEO: At a recent meeting including Neil Parish MP, a number of people gave short interviews to say why they supported the Bampton Library and Resource Centre project. VIEW the 4 minute video - HERE
17 December: Newest here
17 November: News here.
31 October: A message to all LARCS supporters - here.
20th October:
LARCS has successfully completed the first stage (of three) of a £150k funding bid to the Initial Grants Programme of Power to Change, a new independent charitable trust. Next stage further documentation and forms to be completed within 30 days; the third stage would be a visit to Bampton by the Assessors.
See latest news in 4 Feb. 2016 news above!
29th September 2015
Progress is being made on all fronts!
Patronage
We have our first Patron, Neil Parish MP. Neil will be coming to Bampton to a joint evening with the Heritage Centre, held at the Heritage Centre in November. He is a keen supporter of the project, having visited us at the Old School recently, and will be actively promoting LARCS’ interests.
Town Council Support
The LARCS project is supported by Bampton Town Council which has pledged £5,000, plus £1,000 each year for 3 years towards revenue costs once the LARC is open. Like Oliver, however, we have asked for more, as this was money allocated last year. It’s not only a great encouragement to have our Town Council backing us, but it’s additional leverage when appealing to external funders.
Awaiting News
The management team are awaiting news of two large funding bids, and preparing a third. News of this will reach you separately once that crucial e-mail or phone call has been received.
An Award from Norman
It was an encouragement to hear from the Norman Family Charitable Trust, which has awarded £500 to the project. We’ve been writing to several of the local charities and Norman is the first to respond.
Behind the Scenes
Much of our time has been employed preparing the additional material required by the large funders. This represents a considerable amount of time and work including supplying information for the Draft Lease between LARCS and Stan Vincent and an Agreement with Devon County Council Libraries (which includes an annual fee payable to LARCS for occupying the building in addition to over £20,000 pledged towards the removal of the library); the tendering process and requisite fees; ongoing meetings with all the agencies who will be involved with the new LARC. We are hard at work on the Business Plan, a significant task which involves making forecasts of the activities and events at the new LARC several years ahead.
Can you help?
We are circulating a leaflet, letter and form to all the households in Bampton and outlying areas in the next two or three weeks. If you are able to help with the distribution of these, that help would be very much appreciated.
Some of the events coming up, details tba:
-
October (5) Bampton Cub Scouts visit to the Old School as part of their World Challenge Badge;
-
October (17) Bampton is part of the national Big Draw http://www.thebigdraw.org/the-big-draw
-
October Leaflet drop to all households; Come and find us at BAMPTON CHARTER FAIR!
-
November (20) Heritage Centre Evening with MP;
-
January LARCS’ Party;
-
February ‘With Great Pleasure’: an Evening with the
Revd Tony Gross (Reminiscences with Readings and Music);
-
March LARCS’ AGM;
-
April Shakespeare is celebrated in Bampton;
-
June Bampton Players present Murder in the Library: Play and Supper at the Riverside.
Sharing information
Thank you very much for being on the LARCS list. Do please share this news with anyone you know who might be interested but is not on e-mail. And please don’t forget we have an excellent Town Web Site: http://www.bampton.org.uk/ giving comprehensive coverage of all things local – including the LARCS Project, linked via ‘Library’.
LARCS’ e-mail: bamptonlarc@outlook.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/bamptonlibrarydevon
Breaking news is that Bampton Cubs are interested in the LARC project as part of their World Challenge badge. JMC
LARCS had a Bampton Charter Fair stall at the Old School. We sold ’slates’ and made £188.35. Everyone was generous of their time and funds and we are extremely grateful. At least of equal importance, however, was the tremendous encouragement and interest in the project and a boost in our membership numbers - now 540.
Bampton Big Draw (17 October 2015):
Free art and community project.
This was hugely sucessful and the Community Hall was buzzing with people having a great time and producing loads of drawings of our town. These two photos give an idea of the age range!
LARCS Garden Party at the Old Vicarage
Very Many thanks from LARCS to our Hosts, Chris & Jenny Mew, for their kind and generous hospitality. To Everyone who has helped in any way: those who constructed the marquee &gazebo; arranged tables &chairs; decorated tables; served refreshments; made refreshments; sold tickets; advertised the event; drew ‘slates’; provided musical entertainment; lent crockery; provided transport; bought tickets although unable to attend; braved the rain to come on a very wet Sunday - and to all who have kindly and consistently encouraged and supported us in the LARC project- OUR HEARTFELT THANKS A hugely enjoyable time was had by all and in the process, £771 was raised for the LARCS' project.
1
1th July 2015: As part of a publicity campaign for LARCS, Devon Libraries Reading Challenge, and just for fun, children (and adults!) were invited to make a record-breaking attempt on paper boats sailing down the leat in Brook Street.
The boats certainly whizzed along, and the record was probably set up - we're not sure if it had been done before! It was 49 boats.
Children were encouraged to read at least 6 books during the summer holidays with bag of goodies and sticker chart.
LARCS at Bampton Spring Fest.
We raised £430.60 towards funds, but perhaps more importantly, we raised our profile engendering a lot of interest, added to our growing list of supporters - and much enjoyed ourselves in the process. With all good wishes and heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the resounding success of the LARCS' First Spring Fest.
Report on the day - here
25 April 2015 - LARCS Presentation, Vote, Supper - details here. Also slide-show of presentation available here. Minutes of this meeting and a subsequent update are available here.
5th March: The Inaugural Meeting of the Bampton Library & Resource Centre Supporters 7.30 pm at the Community Hall (light refreshments provided) This is when we become a formal body with a Constitution; elect Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and other members of the Management Committee – Your Vote Counts!; set up small sub-committees for Grant Applications/Building Programme/Local Fund-raising; make decisions about future plans for our Library & Resource Centre – Your Vote Counts! The photo below shows the The Bampton Library and Resource Centre Supporters (LARCS) which took place on 5th March.
REPORT TO BTC on current situation with LARCS (April 2015) - here
The Save Bampton Library Project - download a talk given to Bampton Society - here.
October 2014 - letter to BTC - here
December 2014 - Bampton Library to become part of Community Pilot Scheme - info here. Report from Mid Devon Gazette (16/12/14) - here
Bampton Library Action Group - Mission Statement (December 2014) - here
