Creating space to thrive: Bedfont® supports school library revamp

Bedfont^® Scientific Limited, a local med-tech business located in Harrietsham, was pleased to help create a tranquil woodland-themed library for children at Harrietsham Church of England Primary School. The library space, which had been used as a flow-through area with no real purpose until 2 years ago, was created for children to enjoy during lunchtime; however, it lacked a certain magic. With tight educational budgets, the school asked for help and set out to revamp the school library.

When the school reached out to local businesses for support in revitalizing its library, Bedfont^® was proud to step forward. Over a couple of weeks, a dedicated team of Bedfont^® volunteers worked side by side with school staff and family members to transform the space with a fresh coat of paint. The collaborative effort not only refreshed the physical environment but also helped create a brighter, more welcoming space that inspires students and encourages a love of reading.

The physical environment plays a significant role in supporting young people’s wellbeing, By helping to refresh the library, we’ve contributed to a space that encourages creativity, focus and a love of reading. It’s wonderful to know that students will benefit from this transformation for years to come.”

Claire Dadswell, Wellbeing Manager, Bedfont^®

Much of the library’s transformation was made possible through generous community support. The furniture was kindly donated by a library that was closing its doors, while the greenery used to bring the woodland theme to life was provided by online retailer Blooming Artificial. After discovering a striking feature tree on Facebook Marketplace, the school organized a ‘Wear It Green Day’ to raise the funds needed to purchase it. Additional proceeds from the school’s summer fundraiser, ‘HotDogs and Cool Music’, helped to fund the Accelerated Reader program.

Staff and parents also volunteered to scan and label the library’s collection, while additional items, including the astroturf, were sourced through donations from the local community via Facebook Marketplace.

Jackie Chambers, Head Teacher at Harrietsham Primary School, said, "The school are extremely grateful for the very kind support of Bedfont^® and the other members of our local community who have supported us with our library revamp. They have really helped to bring the children's vision for their new library to life. Our thanks also to the staff who have helped and to Mr Walker and Mrs Mannering for their vision and hard work with this project. This joint project has meant that our children now have the most magical and engaging space to enjoy reading."

Supporting local initiatives is a key part of Bedfont’s commitment to community engagement, and the company was delighted to contribute to a project that will benefit pupils for many years.