Young volunteer organises Gainsborough Community Library 90th birthday event!

Jake Turner, young volunteer at Gainsborough Community Library.

By Georgina Quinn | 14 August 2026

Gainsborough Community Library on Clapgate Lane, Ipswich, will celebrate 90 years of serving local residents next Saturday with a day of free entertainment, activities and live performances, organised by one of the library’s young volunteers.

Sixteen-year-old Jake Turner had only been volunteering with Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library, the library’s charity friends’ group, for a few months before putting himself forward to lead in planning the library’s 90th birthday celebration. The free celebration on Saturday 22 August will bring together local musicians, businesses and volunteers to create what he hopes will become one of the library’s biggest community events of the year.

From winning the library’s IP3’s Got Talent competition in 2023 to visiting Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, Jake has benefitted from many of the opportunities the library provides for local young people.

Organising the 90th anniversary celebrations was an opportunity to recognise the role the library has played in his life and celebrate its contribution to the community over the past 90 years. As a musician, he was especially keen to create opportunities for local performers to take centre stage.

“This was always going to be a special milestone, but I wanted to help make it the highlight of the year for Gainsborough Community Library. As a musician myself, I knew that helping local singers get the attention they needed would be crucial for this event, which is why we’ve got such fabulous acts performing on the day.
 
“It’s really nice to be part of such a community-led charity and help the local community. The work can be a lot, but I hope the outcome will be remarkable.”

The celebrations will take place on Saturday 22 August and will run from 2pm until 10pm. Activities throughout the day will include a baking competition, open mic performances, face painting, a raffle, children’s activities in the Garden Room and live music.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy food and refreshments throughout the event, with JJ’s Pizzeria providing freshly made pizza, Whip It Like Webber serving sweet treats, and the Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library café open as usual.

Evening performances will feature Jake Turner, Sophie Rose, Chloe Spinks, Cameron Patchett and Happy September.

The event is free to attend and open to all. Anyone with questions or who would like to get involved can contact Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library by emailing voices4gainsboroughcl@gmail.com.

Highlights and achievements

• During lockdown, the library began delivering weekly food parcels and sanitary products to homes in the area, and has continued to offer low-cost fruit and veg bags each week. The initiative won a Make a Difference Award from BBC Radio Suffolk.
• In 2020, the library won the Strengthen Your Community Award in the Suffolk High Sheriff’s Award in recognition of the important work the library does in offering a hub for community events and activities.
• In 2021, library manager Mandy Grimwood was shortlisted for the Health and Wellbeing award from Libraries Connected for excellence in library service and supporting the Universal Library Offers and Promises.
• In 2022, the library received a parcel from Croatia which contained a long-lost book originally borrowed from the Gainsborough branch in 1958, which had been returned to Dubrovnik Libraries.
• In 2023, the library’s volunteer-run support group, Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library, were finalists for the Team/Community Group of the Year at the Stars of Suffolk Awards
• In 2024, a new garden room extension was built for the community to enjoy using donations from the Voices 4 Gainsborough Community Library group, Ipswich East Rotary Club, St Lawrence Parish Hall Trust and locality funding from local councillors.

Gainsborough Community Library hosts numerous events, activities and community projects, including wildlife walks, video game sessions, singing groups, family crafts, social meet-ups, coding clubs, book groups, Girlguiding activities and more.

The library has the highest number of event attendees and the highest number of volunteer hours in the whole county. Visit the Gainsborough Community Library webpage for opening hours, facilities, event information and more.