Beccles library is a much needed hub for the local community and its team is working hard to bring people back together this summer after the long social separation caused by the pandemic. With an extensive program of events and big plans for future development there certainly is a lot going on.

This summer, children have the opportunity meet alpacas and miniature donkeys, owls and skunks, build their own build feeders, plant seeds and even find gold at the end of the rainbow, not to mention the Lego Club, Forest School and British sign language clubs. All these fabulous and free activities have been coordinated to run alongside the Summer Reading Challenge, a tremendous scheme run annually in libraries across the country.

“Libraries are about far more than books, we are a social care service.” Says Sharon Chapman, Beccles Library Manager. “Visitors to the library come for all sorts of reasons, which could be anything from using our PCs and printing services, attending one of our community group activities or simply just for a chat. We have groups for new parents, families with pre and school age children and for teenagers too.”

“We maintain strong links with all of the local schools. This summer, most of our volunteers have come from Sir John Leman High School, and they will be listening to younger children read as they progress though the Summer Reading Challenge, while also assisting with a very busy schedule of events and activities. We all feel it is vital to present a summer of fun and relaxation for our local community, especially after the horrible year everyone has endured.”

There are grand plans ahead for Beccles Library with an extensive refurbishment of the children’s library planned. The project, the date for which is to be confirmed, will see a total transformation of this area which will incorporate bright colours and appealing graphics to draw young visitors in. There will be child height ‘book boxes’ to promote independent choice, tables and chairs for families to come together for drawing activities and a ‘book nook’ in which to snuggle up and enjoy getting lost in the pages of a book. In addition, there are plans arrange stock and space so that young adults have their own separate area away from the children’s space.

This work is in addition to wider remedial work to the building’s roof, doors and windows which will be funded by owners of the premises, Suffolk County Council, to the value of approximately £250,000.

Durrants Charitable Foundation is delighted to have made a financial contribution of £750 to this wonderful project which will benefit families from Beccles and beyond.

“Bringing the community back together after such a long time apart is tremendously important” commented Dominic Parravani, Managing Director of Durrants. “The team at Beccles Library is doing a sterling job and their passion and enthusiasm is evident in everything they do. We are proud to support this exciting refurbishment project and look forward to seeing it come to fruition.”

Beccles Library Community Trust supports and fundraises for Beccles Library and has been instrumental in sourcing funding for the children’s library project and would be interested in speaking to anyone who is able to support them further. For more information please contact Sharon Chapman on sharon.chapman@suffolklibraries.co.uk

IMAGE: Local children enjoying the Summer Reading Challenge in the library garden.

Finding your ideal home can be a tricky business. Of course it’s essential to have a wishlist to make sure your key criteria are met, but it’s also important to approach your property search with an open mind – your ideal home might not actually look like you think it will.

Choosing a bungalow might not be something you’ve considered, after all, they do have a reputation with some for being only for the elderly; but that’s simply not the case, in fact there are quite a few advantages to owning a bungalow.

Bungalows are a good investment

Fewer bungalows are being built in the UK yet demand remains strong. This means that bungalows hold their value and can appreciate more than other property types. That said, it is true that, due to demand, bungalows tend to be more expensive per square metre.

Space and privacy

Many bungalows were built several decades ago when the need for housing was not as great and space was not at such a premium, so tend to have bigger plots. Outdoor space on bungalow plots typically includes a driveway as well as front and rear garden. In addition to the great outdoor space, bungalows offer more privacy, with neighbouring properties also being single storey buildings that have limited if any view into the neighbouring plot.

Great for Families

As we’ve already mentioned, bungalows are often thought of as for the elderly, and it’s true, they are ideal for senior living, but they’re also a great solution for families. The lack of stairs means there’s one less thing to worry about when there are youngsters toddling about, plus having bedrooms on the same level as the living areas means that children are not too far away so you can easily keep an eye on them. This is also a plus as the kids reach their teenage years and disappear into their bedrooms for hours on end to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.

Housekeeping and maintenance made easy

Let’s face it trudging the vacuum cleaner up and down stairs is a bit of a pain. There’s none of this in a bungalow. With all the accommodation on one level, the housework is a much easier task. It’s also less challenging to carry out regular maintenance work such as cleaning windows, facias, guttering and any roofing work.

Potential to extend

As already mentioned, bungalows tend to have larger plots with space to the rear and front of the property, giving greater potential to extend outwards. Bungalows often have large, high unused loft space too which can be perfect for extending upwards – a loft extension can make a fabulous bedroom and even and ensuite.

Make it your own

Due to the age of many bungalows and the typical demographic of bungalow owners (who have often lived in them since they were built), properties that come to the market are often in need of renovation or modernisation. Of course, this can deter some people but it offers a terrific opportunity to create a real transformation and make your mark on the property.

We’ve highlighted here some of the many benefits of bungalow life although, of course, some would argue the disadvantages of living in a bungalow. Some feel insecure sleeping on the ground floor, others don’t like the lack of separation between bedrooms and living areas. Weighing up the pros and cons is a personal choice. But what’s important when conducting a property search is that you check out all the options. You might just find what you’d dismissed as a ‘no’ turns out to be your forever home.

The country seems divided over the forthcoming lifting of Covid restrictions.  Whilst some are delighted and keen to return to life as normal, others are approaching this next step with an element of trepidation as the media, once again, reports daily increases in Coronavirus cases.

The Test and Trace system is doing its job, but several local businesses are suffering disruption to their service levels as more and more of their staff are contacted and requested to self-isolate.

Here at Durrants the safety of our clients and staff remains paramount and we pride ourselves on the high level of service we offer our clients. We feel that relaxing our Covid-19 procedures at this stage would not be appropriate and therefore we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the safety measures we have in place for property viewings.