SKIPTON'S new 'Library of Things' will be housed in the former SCAD charity shop in Newmarket Street - and hopes are high it will be open in the summer.

Share Skipton, says it is delighted to taking over the shop premises, for its library - which will see people borrowing useful items from pressure-washers to DIY tools and gazebos rather than buying them brand-new.

Volunteers and trustees are now busy working on Newmarket Street premises, which have been empty since December, 2022, following the folding of the Skipton and Craven Action for Disability (SCAD) charity, and are now ready to accept donations of 'things'.

The shop is being refurbished using funding received from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), through North Yorkshire Council, under its Community Climate Action Programme. It has been part match funded by a grant from Broughton-based environmental consultancy, Beyondly.

The funding will be used to upgrade and improve the energy efficiency of the premises, fit the shop out ready for use as a library of things, and support the running costs until March 2025.

By enabling people to borrow rather than buy things they only use occasionally, the Share Skipton charity hopes to reduce consumption, waste and C02 emissions, as well as help communities to save money and storage space.

“We are very excited about moving into our new premises, which we think are just right for the library of things” said Share Skipton chair, Angela Monaghan. “There is a lot of hard work still to be done before we can open, and much depends on the support of our local communities, but we hope we’ll be up and running by mid-summer.”

Sam Healey, Share Skipton development officer, said “Now we have a base, we can start receiving donations of things for our library. Most useful are things that people only use from time-to-time, such as a gazebo, pressure washer, tent, DIY and garden tools, or carpet cleaner. If you think you might have something useful that you are willing to donate, please get in touch.”

Share Skipton will also soon be recruiting volunteers to help run the library. Roles on offer include librarian, PAT tester, repair technician, social media champion, trustee, and administrative support.

For more information on Share Skipton, including its wish list for donations of things and how to volunteer, go to: www.shareskipton.org - or email Sam on hello@shareskipton.org. The charity can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.