A former Worcestershire poet laureate is looking to raise £35,000 to turn a city centre shop into a community hub with a café and mini library.

The project, set up by Leena Batchelor and running under the name Script Haven Ltd, will aim to offer "a safe space to provide facilities for advice, counselling and education".

There would also be a café onsite for people to have free access to second-hand books and “employment and volunteering opportunities”.

Ms Batchelor, who was poet laureate from 2020-21, hopes the venue would also play host to an array of events for the Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe Festival – which currently has no permanent home.

The bold plans are now seeking donations via a Crowdfunder page to secure premises.

She said: “The shop will provide a community hub and safe space to have facilities for advice, counselling and education.

“Several local charities offering bereavement and emotional support have pleaded with me to make this space available as soon as possible.

“We wish to open a cafe on site, allowing people to sit and rest in comfort, with a freely accessible reading shelf - a mini-library if you like - to while away the stress of the day.

“Somewhere where all are welcome, with affordable refreshments or simply a safe quiet corner if that is what is needed.

“Employment and volunteering opportunities will also be provided and a social board available signposting advice and support for all sections of the community.”

Ms Batchelor says the idea was “born from the awareness that all communities need safe spaces, self-published authors struggle to find space in mainstream bookshops and pre-loved books gather dust in corners”.

"I want to offer a home for these treasures, too,” she added.

Ms Batchelor has a track record of successful projects – with her acclaimed Commandery exhibition in 2022 resulting in a book which is being released later this spring.

Her play ‘Out of the Darkness’, offered free to schools in 2021, attracted support from American rock group Hollywood Vampires to use their music.

The project for a new community space can be supported through the Crowdfunder page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/safe-spaces

For more information email: scripthavenltd@gmail.com

Script Haven Ltd is also already running a scheme supporting UK troops on deployment for people to pay for the cost of a cup of tea or coffee for them, visit: https://scripthaven.co.uk to find out more.