Spellow Library in Walton, Liverpool, was left torched and vandalised by anti-immigration rioters on 3 August 2024. The library was more than just a library, it also served as a community hub and a food bank. In response to the events, the community has rallied together to raise repair funds for the library, with a number of high-profile figures also pledging their support.
The fundraiser for Spellow Library
The fundraiser was started by a resident local to the library, Alexandra McCormick. After seeing the damage done to the community hub, she began the ‘GoFundMe’ appeal with the goal of raising £500. Alex explained why she began the fundraising campaign:
“I always loved to read when I was a child. My mum loves to read and now my little girl loves to read. Just seeing such a gorgeous community space destroyed,- especially with it being a library – just really upset me.”
Despite the initially low fundraising goal, the total amount donated now (10 August 2024) stands at just over £237,400. A number of celebrities, including TV-cook Nigella Lawson, and children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, have donated to the cause.
“I think when something that’s good for the community is damaged, especially when it impacts children and older people, I think people really come out in force and rally.” Alex explained.
Alex also describes the fundraiser as a ‘community effort’, with thousands of people working together to raise awareness of the library and the campaign. Spellow Lane Library opened in March 2023, with the specific purpose of serving deprived communities in the area. Throughout the year, community events are held to support the population, and over the course of the summer, the library planned to host a number of children’s activities.
On X (formerly Twitter), Liverpool Libraries and Information Services said: “We’d like to thank everyone very much for the generosity and support we have received following the incident at Spellow Library Hub.” Since the riots, the summer activities have now been relocated, with a full list of new locations being available on Liverpool City Council’s website.
The riots
The riots in Southport were sparked by the murder of three young girls in Southport on the Monday 29 July, following false claims being spread online that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker. This provoked rioters to take to the streets to protest against UK immigration policies, which they view as too relaxed. Merseyside police estimate that 300 people were involved in the violent disorder on Saturday, 3 August, which led to the vandalism of Spellow Library, amongst other buildings.
Alex said: “I just think it’s quite mindless, to be honest. I think there’s never an excuse to destroy any spaces, but especially not a space that’s done so much good for the local area.”
Sentencing has begun in Liverpool for some rioters who were arrested in Southport following the unrest, and more continue to be arrested. This includes Adam Wharton, who admitted to burgling Spellow Library during the riots, at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday 5 August.
Police report that over 400 arrests have been made since the death of the three young girls.
More protests are expected to take place over the course of the next few weeks. However, the government has assured people that communities will remain safe, as nearly 6,000 public order officers have been mobilised to handle any disorder.
To donate to the fundraiser, please go to the GoFundMe page.
Update on the fundraiser
Following the fundraiser’s launch at the beginning of August, the campaign has now raised over £250,000. In addition to this a number of people have also donated books to the library as they move forwards with repairs. This includes Queen Camilla, who donated nearly 70 books to the library. Donations of money or books are still welcome, however due to the overwhelming number of books the library has been given, Alex has now updated the fundraiser to ask if people are happy for the extra books to be distributed across other libraries (23-08-2024).
Updated 23-08-2024, see the last paragraph.
