Since 2016, V22 (now Calico) has saved and revitalised four libraries in Lewisham, navigating financial challenges and Covid-19 to increase book borrowing by 20%, bucking national trends.
The charity emphasises and brings together communities, arts and libraries, sustains extended opening hours through innovation and community support, and is dedicated to accessible, thriving library services for all.
By giving your time and skills, you contribute to local initiatives that improve lives and create a stronger, more connected community. Your efforts directly support important causes and make a lasting impact.
Volunteering is a chance to develop new skills, explore interests, and gain valuable experience. From teamwork to specialized training, you'll grow personally and professionally while enriching the lives of others.
Volunteering with us is a great way to meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for making a difference. You’ll expand your social circle and enjoy a sense of belonging while working on projects that create positive change.
The Indie Press Fair is a one-day celebration of independent publishing, hosted by Calico Projects at Manor House Library. Independent presses will be exhibiting on the day, with books and other publications available to buy directly from them.
Running alongside the fair are four free talks and panels featuring authors, editors and publishers discussing their work and the world of small press publishing.
Lewisham is the most diverse borough in the whole country, and Calico Projects is dedicated to reaching and serving every part of our community. We were therefore delighted when we heard that the good people of the Black British Book Festival were looking for a space to hold a collection of contemporary works written by Black British authors.
Fast forward a year and a bit, and this reference-only resource now sits in its own dedicated space in Sydenham Library. The collection holds a wide range of Black literature across all styles and genres: fiction and memoir, poetry and prose. Some are by writers that you know and admire – Marcus Rashford! Percival Everett! David Harewood! – and some are a little more obscure. We’ve got blockbusters and cult classics, bestsellers and hidden gems, books for children and adults and readers of all ages.
Taken altogether it amounts to a valuable resource, but it’s more than that. It’s a celebration of the depth and strength of Black writing in Britain and beyond. It’s another reason to visit your wonderful local library. It’s a library within a library. And we’re proud that we were able to give it a home.
Over eight weeks in the autumn of 2024, all four of our libraries hosted the Welcome Mat, a project of Brighton-based charity The Launchpad Collective.
Created by more than 250 people from all around the world, the Welcome Mat brought an uncompromising message of “WELCOME” to our libraries. Lewisham is the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, and libraries are crucial locations for new arrivals to an area, and as such we were delighted to be able to make such a striking display in support of these missions.
The Welcome Mat made a real impression on our library users: “amazing”, “incredible”, “huge”, “a powerful message, beautifully done.” Since leaving Lewisham, the mat has been on a tour of the country in association with Migrant Action, visiting areas affected by the racist violence in summer 2024.
