We really don't want to do this, but it's been a bad summer and we need help.

We're a volunteer-driven bookshop and arts space in Turnpike Lane, North London, called the All Good Bookshop .

We opened six years ago, and moved to a volunteer model three years ago. We have one employee (a part-time manager) and other than that, everyone that works at the shop is a volunteer - including the person writing this. We run lots of groups and events, including reading groups, writing groups, music and art clubs, spoken word, live music, and everything from a knitting group to a Shakespeare group. We have an art gallery, with a different artist each month, and we've given gallery and performance space to all kinds of first-time artists.

As with any small business, 2026 has been tough. And between the cost of living, heatwave and people going on holiday, it's been our roughest summer yet. We got through May and June, but July and August have been tough. We knew it would be, but it's been worse than we expected. People are ordering fewer books and are coming to fewer events. But we also know how much this space means to people, and we're hoping this is a temporary blip.

We've always had good months and bad months, but this is the furthest we've been from paying our basic rent and bills. Anything you can spare right now would really help us with some breathing space while we try and turn things around.