benthyg cymru

What benthyg cymru does

Benthyg Cymru is a Wales-based non-profit Community Interest Company (company no. 12998233) that supports a national network of community-run Libraries of Things. Founded in 2020 by Becky Harford, Ella Smillie, and Jane — who had established Wales' first Library of Things in 2017 — the organization provides consultancy, toolkit resources, training, and operational support to community groups, local authorities, and organizations setting up their own lending libraries. Its core product is the network itself: 35+ physical Library of Things locations across Wales where members pay small fees (£1–£7 per week) to borrow tools, equipment, kitchen items, event supplies, and household goods instead of purchasing them. The organization also operates its own flagship RE:MAKE repair-and-reuse hubs in Newport and the Valleys as demonstration sites.

The technology stack is deliberately platform-agnostic: individual libraries use third-party borrowing platforms such as Lend Engine and MyTurn for inventory management and bookings, and Benthyg Cymru aggregates impact data across these systems rather than building a proprietary platform. Members typically discover libraries through the website, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), or community referrals, then sign up as members and reserve items online. New locker systems are being introduced to enable 24/7 access in partnership with councils.

Revenue is a hybrid of three streams: per-borrow loan fees retained largely by the individual libraries, grant funding from the Welsh Government, National Lottery Community Fund, Postcode Community Trust, Community Foundation Wales, Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, and Hapus, and individual donations (one-off or monthly recurring). Customer segments span individual community members (the primary long-tail segment), community groups and non-profits setting up libraries, and local authorities such as Cardiff Council and Wrexham County Borough Council partnering on waste strategy and locker infrastructure. Since 2021 the network has recorded 34,564 borrows, £809,338.87 in household cost savings, and 376,447.42 kg of carbon saved (figures updated July 2026).

Name

benthyg cymru

Legal name

Benthyg Cymru

Website

https://benthyg-cymru.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Benthyg Cymru is a Wales-based non-profit that supports a national network of 35+ community-run Libraries of Things, providing consultancy, toolkit resources, and training to community groups, councils, and organizations establishing lending libraries across Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sharing Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Library of things
• Community sharing network
• Tool lending service
• Circular economy services
• Sharing economy platform

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan fees: Borrowers pay small fees to rent items from local Libraries of Things. Fees vary by item and location, ranging from £1 to £7 per week. These fees cover local running costs including maintenance and spare parts.
2. Membership fees: Some libraries charge a small membership fee to join, while others offer free membership with only loan fees. Structure varies by independent library.
3. Donations: Individual donations accepted through one-off and monthly recurring options. Suggested amounts include £10, £15, £25 for one-off donations. Monthly options suggested at £3, £5, £10.
4. Grant funding: Part funded by Welsh Government and other grant makers including National Lottery Community Fund, Postcode Community Trust, Community Foundation Wales, and Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Benthyg Cymru is a non-profit Community Interest Company that operates and supports a national network of community-run Libraries of Things across Wales. Members of the public borrow tools, equipment, and household items for small weekly fees (£1–£7) instead of purchasing them, while the organization also provides a digital toolkit, consultancy, training, and project management services to communities and local authorities wanting to establish their own lending libraries.

Product overview

Benthyg Cymru operates as a network organization supporting a Wales-wide network of community-run Libraries of Things. The core offering is the Library of Things Network, supported by a comprehensive Toolkit and Resources portal. Services include Network Member Services, Consultancy, Full Project Management/Partnerships, Expert Speaker Services, and Facilitation/Training/Workshops. The organization also operates its own RE:MAKE flagship projects. The network enables communities to borrow tools, equipment, and household items instead of purchasing them, promoting sustainability and reducing waste.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library of Things Network (Wales-wide network membership) A national network of 35+ community-run Libraries of Things across Wales where members borrow tools, equipment, and household items for a small fee (£1–£7/week) instead of purchasing them. Members find their nearest library online, join, reserve and collect items, and return them for the next user.
• Benthyg Cymru Toolkit and Resources A comprehensive digital toolkit providing step-by-step guidance, templates, governance models, and operational best practices for communities wanting to set up and run their own Library of Things. Available to network members and the public.
• Network Member Services Membership package for Libraries of Things operators across Wales, including quarterly network meetings, training, peer support, and access to the Benthyg Cymru toolkit.
• Consultancy Services Expert advisory services for local authorities and complex organisations on setting up and operating a Library of Things safely and effectively, including written recommendations and experience-based guidance.
• Full Project Management / Partnerships End-to-end project management services for establishing Libraries of Things, working in partnership with Welsh Government, local authorities, and community groups.
• Facilitation, Training and Workshops Staff-led training sessions and workshops covering item maintenance, risk assessments, and operational setup for Library of Things projects.
• RE:MAKE Projects Benthyg Cymru's own flagship repair and reuse hub projects, including RE:MAKE Newport and RE:MAKE Valleys, delivering hands-on library-of-things and repair activity in partnership with Repair Café Wales and WCVA.
• Expert Speaker Services Presentation and speaking engagements by the Benthyg Cymru team on borrowing, sustainability, community sharing, and circular economy topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• £528,579 saved by households through borrowing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Cardiff CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner supporting Library of Things development in Cardiff area, including locker systems.
• Repair Café WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose partnership in sharing economy movement. Joint manifesto 'Borrow. Repair. Repeat' launched together. Repair Café Wales has 130+ volunteer-led repair cafés across Wales. Collaborative approach to building circular economy infrastructure.
• Lend EnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationBorrowing platform software provider used by many Libraries of Things in the network. Enables online catalog, reservations, and member management.
• MyTurncoreTechnology or IntegrationBorrowing platform software provider used by several Libraries of Things in the network. Provides online catalog and booking functionality.
• Future Generations Commissioner for WalesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment official endorsing Benthyg Cymru as excellent guest speakers on Libraries of Things and borrowing in Wales.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Library of Things (London): UK-based community lending library operating a similar Library of Things model. Directly comparable in product offering (borrowing household and DIY items by fee) and target customer (cost-conscious consumers seeking access over ownership).
• Share Reuse Repair Initiative: UK-wide initiative coordinating a network of reuse, repair, and lending organisations. Directly comparable as a peer-network operator promoting the sharing and circular economy movement that Benthyg Cymru participates in.
• Repair Café Wales: Welsh network of 130+ volunteer-led repair cafés and close partner of Benthyg Cymru (joint Borrow, Repair, Repeat manifesto). Highly comparable in mission, community-led network model, and Welsh geography.

Broad incumbents

• Fat Llama: UK peer-to-peer rental marketplace for tools and equipment. Comparable in addressing the same 'borrow rather than buy' use case (occasional tools, cleaning, event equipment), though operated commercially rather than as a community network.
• Hygglo: Swedish-founded peer-to-peer rental platform operating across Europe including the UK. Comparable as a digital-first rental marketplace addressing occasional-use borrowing of household and leisure items.
• Hurr: UK-based peer-to-peer rental marketplace primarily focused on fashion but expanding into broader categories. Comparable as a commercial alternative to the borrowing model that Benthyg Cymru operates.

Emerging players

• The Sharing Depot (Toronto Tool Library): Canada's largest tool library and sharing hub. Directly comparable as a community lending library model that Benthyg Cymru's network model parallels, though operating as a single physical hub rather than a distributed network.

Regional players

• West Seattle Tool Library: US community tool lending library. Comparable as a Library of Things / tool lending concept serving a defined geographic community, though smaller and operating in a different region.
• Berlin Tool Library (Werkzeugbibliothek): German community tool lending library. Comparable as a Library of Things concept operating in a single European city, illustrating the international replication potential of Benthyg Cymru's model.

Others

• WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action): Welsh umbrella body for voluntary sector that channels funding (including the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme) to community organisations including Benthyg Cymru. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/benthyg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Benthyg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benthyg-cymru
• Instagraminstagram.com/benthyg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about benthyg cymru