Benthyg Stories

There are many reasons people borrow items from a Library of Things. Saving money, trying out new things, spring cleaning, the list goes on. So we thought we’d share a few stories from across our network. From ice cream makers and toys to gazebos and hedge trimmers, check out the endless possibilities of borrowing.

Sue and Ben: Ice Cream Maker, Crepe Maker, and Hedge Trimmer

“I had never heard of the Library of Things,” says Sue Peppiat. “My neighbour told me about it and showed me it online. I had a look and I thought it might be something my grandson would like. He loves anything sweet and likes to bake cakes and cookies. I showed him all the items at Splott Benthyg and he said he wanted to try the ice cream maker, which was a good idea because if he really liked it, we could get him one for his birthday.’

‘I booked it online and went to pick it up—that was very straightforward, it was nice to see Railway Gardens too. I chatted to lots of people. We borrowed it for a week and he made some very nice vanilla ice cream and some chocolate. Obviously he added lots of sauce and chocolate bits too! It cost 3.50, I think, not much, and it was worth it because he’s said that now that he’s tried making ice cream, he doesn’t want an ice cream maker any more. It was too easy. Now he wants a crepe maker! So I’ve booked a crepe maker for a week in a couple of weeks’ time and he’s going to come over and have a go at making crepes. When he borrows the crepe maker, I’m going to borrow a hedge trimmer and have a good go at the hedges in my front garden.”

Michelle: Sensory Kit

“We borrowed this for our seven-year-old who has selective mutism. He is non-verbal and also has anxiety, plus a few other challenges. We wanted to try and find ways to calm him down and this kit ticked all the boxes. The blackout tent is easy to pop up giving a child a nice size space to relax. The light sticks provided a nice glow for him to watch. The disco light was a massive hit to calm him down with his own music. The fidget toys were great for his anxiety. He played for ages with those. The pads he found fascinating, watching how they moved when pressure was added. My little one used this kit every day and it was a massive help to calm him down. It has also given me loads of ideas of what to get him for Christmas.”

Aneka: Gazebo, Play Kits, and Bubble Machine  

Moving to a new country can be isolating – and that was certainly the case for Aneka when she moved to Cardiff five years ago with her husband and 5-week-old son. Far away from her family in Canada, she tried joining baby groups and meeting other parents through apps like Peanut, but then COVID hit and she ended up stuck in the house without making much progress.

Post-COVID, she emerged without a connection to her neighbourhood or other families in the city. So, Anne borrowed an outdoor games kit, den building kit, and a bubble machine from ACE Benthyg and invited everyone from the surrounding estates to join a big outdoor play event.

“ACE Benthyg delivered the play kit, gazebo and bubble machine on Friday morning and picked them up the following Friday morning, which worked perfectly,” says Anne. “Being able to borrow items means we can try out different games without buying them, which makes the events a lot more cost-effective, and I also don’t have to store everything in my house. It also goes along with the spirit of the event, which is just to get everyone out with their families, playing, having fun, trying new things, and getting to know others in the area.”

Newport City Radio: Donation Buckets

“Newport City Radio had the opportunity to run a fundraising bucket collection at Newport County AFC. We borrowed 10 collection buckets. It saved us spending £60 on buckets or cobbling together an odd collection of household buckets. They were professional collection buckets that helped lend credibility to our cause." -Ian Lamsdale, Director Newport City Radio

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Have an idea for a project? Need to entertain your kids? Want to try something new in the kitchen? Borrow what you need here: How to borrow

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