LOCAL start-up The Rebuild Site CIC has been awarded £10,000 through the Cumbria Action for Sustainability Community Climate Grant Scheme to establish a tool library for Carlisle. 

The award adds to funding from the VINCI foundation to purchase shipping containers to house the library and a small workshop space. 

The library, which will be based at the Rebuild Site’s premises in Kingmoor Park, will be open to all members of the public, offering a range of DIY, garden and bike repair tools to borrow. 

The library will run on a membership scheme, allowing everyone to borrow tools for an annual fee of £25.

Concession memberships will be available for under 25s, people on benefits and refugees and people seeking asylum.

The Community Climate Grant funding will support the first year running costs for the library, including DIY workshops, volunteer training and equipment. 

Commenting on the award Rebuild Site director Maisie Hunt said: “The whole Rebuild Team are so excited to be awarded funding through the Community Climate Grants Initiative.

"Tool libraries have proven to be a great resource for local communities across the UK, cutting costs of DIY projects and helping people to reduce their carbon footprint.

"The average power drill is used for just 13 minutes in its life - we think that’s a waste of resources, so borrowing instead of buying tools is a great way to help your pocket and the environment.” 

Helen Attewell, coordinator of the Cumbria Sustainability Network which is supporting the Rebuild tool share project said: "I am delighted that Rebuild has been able to benefit from the Community Climate Grants provided through the Lottery funded Zero Carbon Cumbria project.

"The tool share project is a really practical way of making equipment accessible and affordable for people who want to become more self-reliant and build sustainability into their lifestyles.

READ MORE: Community projects receive funding to cut carbon in Cumbria

"Far better to have tools to share, with support on the technical know-how to operate them, than to have cupboards and garages full of equipment that you barely use and which increase global warming through the carbon used to manufacture them.

"Rebuild has come up with a fantastic win: win solution for communities and the climate, and I wish them all the best for their new venture."