Suffolk Libraries’ Make a Difference with a Daisy fund-raising campaign receives boost from patron Emma Freud, wife of Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis

Suffolk Libraries’ fund-raising campaign has received a boost from the body’s patron.

Emma Freud, wife of screenwriter Richard Curtis who is known for films including Love Actually and Notting Hill, became a patron of Suffolk Libraries in early 2023.

Ms Freud, a writer, producer and long-term executive at Comic Relief, has purchased a daisy alongside her husband as part of the charity’s Make a Difference with a Daisy campaign.

The campaign aims to create a giant daisy chain sculpture installation to represent the joined up network of libraries and the Suffolk communities they connect.

Ms Freud 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.”

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.

The metal daisies will all be based on works by Suffolk-based artist Spadge Hopkins who created several dog-themed designs for Suffolk Libraries’ PAWS-itivity campaign last year.

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. Any individual donating £50 or more will receive one of the daisies from the installation along with a certificate of authenticity.

Community groups and business can get involved by making minimum donations of £500 and having their names engraved on larger daisies also designed by Mr Hopkins.

More information about the campaign can be found here.

The campaign is sponsored by SmartestEnergy, an Ipswich-based energy company.