A BOOKSHOP that raises thousands of pounds for the community is on the hunt for a new premises.

The Kendal and District Lions Club bookshop had to close its current unit at the Westmorland Shopping Centre due to a third campus for Kendal College opening on the top floor of the centre later this year.

The club has appealed to people to help it in its search for an affordable unit, ideally in the town centre, to ensure it can continue providing the popular service and raise vital funding.

“We appreciated the fact that we were given the shop by the shopping centre because we didn’t have to pay rent, we just had to pay the electricity bill, which was very generous,” said Elizabeth Axten, secretary of the Kendal and District Lions Club.

“But the closure curtails our fundraising massively and it has a big impact so we were quite upset by the fact we’d have to leave the bookshop and look for a new premises.”

Funds raised have helped local organisations, charities and has even helped people with their energy bills.

The shop also offers affordable books and the team will collect books from donors.

The Westmorland Gazette: CLOSED: The club had to close its unit in the Westmorland Shopping CentreCLOSED: The club had to close its unit in the Westmorland Shopping Centre

“The bookshop is a massive thing for the club,” said Mrs Axten.

“It raises, on average, between £2,000 and £3,000 a month which is incredible considering the books are £1.

“That then goes back into the community, we are able to support local groups and individuals, we’ve bought white goods for people when they’ve struggled to afford one and we’ve helped pay utility bills for people in the past.

“We get people coming in with dementia with their family or carer and they think it’s fabulous at a pound a book.

“And we very rarely have to advertise for books people are very generous.

“We always collect books as well if they’re unable to get books to us.”

The charity has so far considered the former betting shop in Longpool but is still searching for the perfect location.

“We are looking at the former betting shop on Longpool but we are concerned it won’t have the same footfall and we are liaising with Community Spaces,” said Mrs Axten.

“We would love a premises at an affordable price, as we are a charity, and somewhere in the town centre, that would be amazing.

“However, if we do go forward with Longpool it would be great if people could support us there and if anyone would like to volunteer or become a member.

“A massive thank you to everybody who has supported us through donations or by buying a book, because every pound they spend goes back into the community.”

If you would like to help contact elizabeth.axten@gmail.com.