At St. Edmund’s CofE Primary and Nursery School, we want our children to feel awe and wonder when they read. Stories have the power to transport a child to new worlds, nurture confidence and spark imagination — and we want our library to reflect that magic the moment pupils step inside.

Over the past few months, our site manager and community have worked to breathe new life into our existing library. The room has been freshly painted, a brand-new carpet was generously donated by United Carpets in Mansfield, and existing bookcases have been carefully reused and spray painted - thanks to CYK Spray. This has given us a strong foundation, but we want to go further for our children.

We are dedicating the space to two treasured members of our school family: long-serving governor Geoff Stafford and his daughter, Carolynn who volunteered weekly to listen to children read. The children in our school called her ‘Miss Callie’! Their shared commitment to nurturing young readers makes this tribute especially meaningful.

Within school, Geoff was known simply as a kind and gentle presence. Children felt comfortable talking to him. Staff valued his wisdom and warmth. And he found real joy in listening to children read — something Carolynn shared through her own weekly commitment to supporting our readers.

Geoff was a steady, optimistic pillar of our school, someone whose love for children shone through in every conversation and every act of service. Naming our new library The Stafford Library feels both right and deeply fitting.

To bring this vision to life, we invited BookSpace to design a 3D concept for a dream library. The proposal was inspiring, but at £18,000, it was far beyond what our budget could support. We are now working creatively to produce something similar for a fraction of the cost.

We are seeking to raise £5,000 to add the “wow factor” features that will transform the space from refurbished to extraordinary:

• A treehouse-style storytelling area

• A colourful button sofa

• A three-way reading seat

• A “Like, Try, Why?” display to spark conversations

• “Emoji Reads” to help children express how books make them feel

• Soft, cosy rugs for calm reading moments

These enhancements will help us create a library that embodies everything Geoff and his daughter believed in — a joyful, warm, imaginative place where children feel safe, curious and inspired.

There is no possibility of funding this through our school budget, which is why we are turning to our wonderful community. Every donation, whatever the size, brings us closer to building a space that honours two remarkable people and enriches the lives of every child who walks through its doors.

And the legacy won’t stop with today’s pupils. The Stafford Library will serve generations yet to come — a place where countless children will discover new worlds, grow as readers, and feel the quiet encouragement of the Staffords living on in every story shared.

Thank you for helping us write the next chapter.