New fundraising campaign gets a boost from Emma Freud and Richard Curtis

Suffolk Libraries new Make a Difference With a Daisy campaign has received a boost from Suffolk based producer and Suffolk Libraries patron, Emma Freud.

Emma is a writer, producer and long-term executive at Comic Relief. Her husband Richard Curtis is a screenwriter, producer and director who has created iconic romantic comedy movies including Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Both Emma and Richard have bought daisies to 'Make a Difference with a Daisy'.

Make a Difference With a Daisy focuses on the humble daisy as a symbol of resilience and positivity. The aim is to create a giant daisy chain installation, featuring hundreds of individual metal daisies representing the joined-up network of libraries and the Suffolk communities they connect.

The metal daisies will all be based on artworks by Suffolk-based artist Spadge Hopkins who specialises in metal sculptures and created several dog-themed designs for Suffolk Libraries’ PAWS-itivity campaign last year. Spadge also designed the trail of cormorant sculptures alongside the River Deben at Woodbridge.

The daisy chain installation will be on display at the Food Museum in Stowmarket during the summer and will grow in size as donors come forward to support the campaign. All donations are welcome but any individual donating at least £50 will receive one of the metal daisies from the installation along with a certificate of authenticity. Local groups and businesses can also get involved by making minimum donations of £150 and having their name engraved on larger daisies also designed by Spadge.

Emma Freud became a patron of Suffolk Libraries in early 2023. She said:

“I thought libraries were for borrowing books… Then I discovered Suffolk Libraries... they genuinely make life better for anyone in Suffolk needing support.  I’m so proud to be their patron.”

Make a Difference With a Daisy is being sponsored by SmartestEnergy, an Ipswich-based people-powered energy company empowering customers, generators and partners to get to net zero. Their team of charity ambassadors are thinking up all sorts of ways that they can raise additional funds for Suffolk Libraries work as a charity across Suffolk's communities.  

You can find out information about Make a Difference With a Daisy and how to donate at suffolklibraries.co.uk/daisy or by emailing Alex Downing, Suffolk Libraries Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, at alex.downing@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Suffolk Libraries is the charity which has been successfully running the county’s library service since August 2012. Although the organisation receives funding from Suffolk County Council to provide the core library service, every year it needs to raise additional income to maintain and develop services and activities which make a huge difference to communities across the county.

Suffolk Libraries is one of the only library services in the country with a dedicated health and wellbeing service, including drop-in sessions, a menopause project and period poverty service.