Livesey Museum for Children facts for kids

The Livesey Museum for Children was a special museum in Old Kent Road, located in Southwark, London, England. It was one of the few museums in the United Kingdom made just for children.

This museum used to create a brand new, hands-on exhibition every year. These shows were perfect for all children under 12, and the best part was that entry was completely free! The museum was set up in an old public library building on Old Kent Road and was supported by the local government, Southwark Council. The exhibitions explored fun topics like "Shelter," "Energy," and "Myths & Legends." The museum didn't have its own permanent collection of items. Instead, for each new exhibition, it borrowed interesting objects and artwork from Southwark Council's historical collections.

Why the Museum Closed

Council Decision to Close

In February 2008, Southwark Council decided to close the Livesey Museum. It was planned to shut its doors to the public on March 1, 2008. This decision was made because the council needed to save money, even though the museum was very popular and successful.

Efforts to Save the Museum

After the closure announcement, a group of people started a campaign to try and keep the museum open. This group later became a registered charity called the Friends of the Livesey Museum for Children. They wanted to create a special group, called a trust, to raise money and manage the museum for the community.

In April 2008, Southwark Council learned that the building was actually owned by a trust, not by the council itself. This meant the council couldn't sell the building. Several groups, including the Friends charity, suggested ways to run the building. However, Southwark Council decided to let the building to Theatre Peckham. To do this, the council needed permission from the Charity Commission to change the building's official purpose from a public library to a theatre rehearsal space. A plan was suggested in 2009, but it didn't get enough money to happen.

By February 2010, the building was being used by a group of temporary residents. Since then, the building has been part of a "guardian scheme," where people live there temporarily to keep the building safe.

Future Plans for the Building

In November 2012, Southwark Council chose Treasure House (London) CIC as the preferred group to manage the Livesey Building. Treasure House planned to use the building to provide education for young people aged 13-19 who might not fit into regular schools. They also wanted to offer educational and cultural programs for the local community.

Images for kids

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  The building in November 2009