Guardian Community Events Fund: Alex & Spotlibrary

Inspired by this ethos, Alex wanted to create a place where children who may never have considered it, could tap into their creativity and love for learning in a pressure-free and supportive environment. Through sponsorship from Dot Dot Dot’s Guardian Community Events Fund, Alex set about creating the ‘Spotlibrary’, offering a whole range of creative books that would enable young minds to explore and grow.

A hub for imagination and creativity

Thanks to Alex and the support of Spotlight’s youth empowerment coordinator, Katy, a space for creativity and curiosity has really taken shape in east London. Together, they’ve transformed a simple seating area at the centre’s entrance into a thriving library space. The book collection itself has been curated by Alex to reflect Spotlight’s creative programmes, including music, youth theatre, dance and podcasting, while also introducing new themes to inspire growth and exploration. Alex sourced the books from sustainable shops including eBay, World of Books and Oxfam, reusing resources to build a collection that speaks to the diversity of young people and their talents.

At first, Alex and Katy had concerns that Spotlibrary might feel too purposeful, potentially disrupting the laid back feel of the seating area. But by arranging the books casually throughout the space, they’ve created an inviting and relaxed atmosphere that naturally draws young people in. Spotlibrary, with its cosy coffee table and plants, has become a place where young people can unwind and discover new passions – especially those still working out where their passions lie.

Alex’s thoughtfully designed space offers more than just books. It’s a gateway to discovering creativity and connection with others and supports young people to discover their path in a welcoming, pressure free environment.

Bridging the class gap in the arts

Breaking down barriers to creative careers is vital, especially for young people from underprivileged backgrounds who are often excluded from these industries. Access to high quality creative education and opportunities is key to tackling the financial and systemic barriers that prevent talented young people from furthering their passions.

A report by the Sutton Trust exposes significant inequalities within the creative industries, revealing a disproportionate dominance by individuals from affluent backgrounds, despite only 7% of the UK population attending fee-paying schools. Access to creative degrees in fields like music and art is similarly skewed towards upper middle class students, leaving working class talent often overlooked and underrepresented.

This is why spaces like Spotlibrary and Spotlight are so important. By providing a platform for young people to explore and develop their skills, the library aims to empower them to not only envision a future working within the arts, but to also level the playing field by equipping young people with the tools, experience and confidence they need to break into these industries

Reactions to Spotlibrary

Spotlibrary has quickly become a favourite for young people in the area who are using it regularly to borrow books, unwind after school and discover interesting programmes to join at Spotlight. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with more children visiting the library every day.

Katy recalls one particularly heart warming moment that happened recently: “A young person initially stopped by Spotlibrary to browse but ended up reading with a staff member. The experience really inspired them and they discovered a creative subject they were passionate about, enrolled in a related programme we were running and are now an active member of the group.”

This is just one of many success stories that showcases how Spotlibrary is helping young people to thrive by encouraging a sense of curiosity and learning and creating connections to new opportunities. As the influence of Spotlibrary grows, it’s creating a lasting legacy empowering young people today and paving the way for them to succeed.