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Community-driven lending library of household items marks five years
Share Bristol’s Library of Things has come a long way since starting out in Kingswood with no paid staff, where directors also doubled up as volunteers.
As sustainability has become a mainstream topic recently, Share Bristol’s Library of Things scheme with its four facilities has so far enabled nearly 20,000 loans of myriad of items, ranging from vacuum cleaners to tennis rackets.
From its inception, the initiative has encouraged people to borrow household items instead of buying them new.
Actor and radio presenter Joe Sims opened the second Share Bristol Library of Things on East Street in Bedminster in 2024 – photo: Titch Photography
What began as a small volunteer-run project in Kingswood has grown into a network of four locations across the region, including sites in Bedminster, Winterbourne and at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus.
Share Bristol, which began its life as a Community Interest Company (CIC), was registered as a charity in 2023.
Share Bristol opened its second Bristol site at what used to be Shoezone on East Street in Bedminster in 2024.
Since then it has become a community hub in south Bristol and beyond.
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Every month volunteers work tirelessly to check, clean, test and catalogue items, which usually add around 100 items to its inventory.
One such volunteer is Rajeh, who joined Share Bristol back in 2021 after arriving in the UK as a refugee from Syria.
Starting with little English, Rajeh has since become a familiar face and Share Bristol’s first “Thing Technician” volunteer, helping members and visitors alike.
Rajeh became the organisation’s first ‘Thing Technician’ volunteer after joining Share Bristol in 2021 – photo: Share Bristol
With a small annual membership fee, ranging from £20, the members can borrow as many items, as often as they like.
Currently it has nearly 1,300 members on its books, with the number growing steadily.
The items range from power tools, DIY gear, cleaning equipment, guitars, sporting gear and other household items.
In the long run it has helped residents save money, reduce waste and build stronger community connections.
The four sites of Library of Things boasts a large inventory of items, ranging from lawn mowers to tennis rackets – photo: Share Bristol
One such community engagement activity was when East Street Share Bristol branch hosted Batch Cook Club between October 2024 to March 2025, where university students were invited to up their culinary skills on a budget.
The charity said volunteers remain at the heart of its mission to make borrowing more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly while creating stronger local communities through sharing.
Share Bristol was shortlisted for Sustainability category at the inaugural Bristol Legends awards.
Main photo: Share Bristol
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