Every month for the past ten years, a book sale has been held in Blackheath to raise funds for the Lewisham-based arts charity, Age Exchange.

Age Exchange is dedicated to supporting people with dementia, learning disabilities, carers, and others facing isolation by providing a creative space for engagement and connection.

Each month the event offers around 5,000 books for sale. The most recent sale happened on Saturday, November 2, at the Old Bakehouse Theatre in Blackheath.

Gillian Gadsby, a volunteer at Age Exchange who started the book sales ten years ago, told EastLondonLines that more people have been coming to the sales recently.

Gadsby said: “There’s just been a small group of us running these sales, which occur every month throughout the year. We’ve been advertising locally, but we now have a younger person who understands social media, and he’s been promoting the sales on various sites.

“This has brought in a lot more people, so we’re seeing an increase in attendance. All the money goes towards the charity, which is very important, especially since there isn’t much funding available.”

For Gadsby, Age Exchange is more than a charity, she has a personal connection to the cause: “My husband died two years ago, and he had Alzheimer’s, so it’s rather close to my heart.” she said.

When they started the monthly sales a decade ago, the volunteers were unsure about their future. The book sales began modestly, evolving from a few trestle tables with books to a dedicated space in the venue.

“We decided to have a sale once a month not knowing whether we’d ever get enough books to keep it going but we’ve been going now for 10 years and the books keep coming in, people donate them all the time”, Gadsby said.

Visitors often return month after month, creating a sense of community. “They often use it almost like a lending library”, Gadsby said. “People come and talk about books to each other and chat and you know it’s a nice social gathering as well.”

Age Exchange serves as a vital support system for those affected by dementia, functioning as a community hub with a café, garden, and local library run by volunteers. 

“I encourage people to come and buy and it’s a nice place to be. There’s a lovely cafe as well so you can come and have a good day there browsing and having a lunch or a coffee as well in a very pleasant place so I hope lots more people will come and see us”, Gadsby told ELL.

Yvonne Roye, working at Age Exchange, told EastLondonLines: “We are immensely grateful to the Friends of Age Exchange and everyone who supports our monthly book sales. The recent sale raised over £1,400 and will directly benefit our work in supporting people living with dementia, reducing social isolation, and creating inclusive arts-based community projects. These funds help us offer creative workshops, reminiscence arts sessions, and essential services that build connections, improve well-being, and bring joy to those we serve. The support of our community makes a real and lasting impact.”