Latest news with #UpTheGardenBath
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Peterborough community group says tax hike puts future in doubt
A community project has hit back at the local council for demanding it pay the full business rates on its city centre The Garden Bath, which is a community interest company (CIC), opened its shop Unity in Peterborough's Queensgate Shopping Centre in company sells products on behalf of other small independent firms and has received a 40% discount on business rates from the local Peterborough City Council said Unity was "predominantly retail in nature" and needed to pay the full amount. Up The Garden Bath has been best known for upcycling old bath tubs and using them as planters in Central Dave Poulton said the project was "more than just a shop" and called for the council to "acknowledge its contribution to regenerate the city centre".He said paying the full rate meant an extra £24,000 a year in costs, which he called "uneconomical" and "unaffordable", and said it put its future in doubt."We will have to rely on volunteers instead," said Mr Poulton."We have to bring the rates down to keep Unity alive."He said the project had generated £700,000 in sales for small businesses. CICs are limited companies which operate to benefit the community they rates are a tax on non-domestic properties including shops, pubs and offices. The fees are collected by local properties across Peterborough receive a complete rates relief, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Poulton said all the revenue generated at the Unity store - which he said supported 50 small independent businesses monthly - was put back into the community, such as through crafts and gardening workshops. 'Wrong call' The city's Labour MP Andrew Pakes and Conservative Paul Bristow, who is mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, have both called for the decision to be said he was "shocked" to learn the shop was being charged a full commercial business rate, while Pakes said it was the "wrong call".Nicola Day, deputy leader of the Green Party on the council, said it was "good to see unified voices" for the Jamil, the Labour deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and corporate governance at the council, said the business did not meet the criteria for mandatory rate relief."This is because the business remains predominantly retail in nature and eligibility for charitable rate relief requires that the premises be used wholly or mainly for charitable purposes," said said officers were in touch with the business to see how they could support it through other means. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Meet this week's Think Local/Buy Local business
Our Think Local/Buy Local business this week is Up The Garden Bath & Unity and here Dave Poulton Kez Hayes-Palmer tell us more. Do you want to take part in our Think Local/Buy Local campaign. (Image: Newsquest) What do you do? Up The Garden Bath is a not-for-profit community interest company that promotes sustainability, environmental education and community wellbeing by upcycling old bathtubs into garden planters and delivering educational workshops across schools and community spaces. UNITY is our collaborative community retail space based in Queensgate Shopping Centre, where we support more than 100 local crafters, artists and small businesses by offering them an affordable and central space to showcase and sell their products. UNITY also includes a free Create & Craft area where anyone can drop in, get creative and learn new skills. To date, we have helped generate more than £650,000 in sales revenue for our cacophony of small local businesses and delivered our free crafting activities to 20,000 people. Where are you based? 📍 UNITY Shop: Westgate Arcade, Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough PE1 1NT Contact Details: 📞 01733 900903 📧 info@ 🌐 Website: When did you set up the Business? Up The Garden Bath was founded in 2020. UNITY opened its doors in 2023. Why did you set up the Business? We saw a need to tackle both environmental issues and social isolation in our community. By combining upcycling with education, we are able to make a positive environmental impact while also creating inclusive spaces for learning and connection. UNITY was launched to give local creatives and micro-businesses a central, high-footfall location to reach new customers without the usual financial pressures of retail. How many people do you have working for you? We have a small core team of five staff members and a brilliant network of volunteers and collaborators who help bring our community projects and retail spaces to life. What do you consider to be your USP? Our unique combination of environmental education, creative upcycling and community engagement sets us apart. At UNITY, it's not just about shopping – it's about supporting local people, learning new skills, and connecting with your community. One of the Up The Garden Bath community campaigns. (Image: Up The Garden Bath) Why do you think it is important that people use local shops and businesses? Local businesses are the backbone of the community. When you support local, you're not just buying a product – you're supporting a dream, a family, and a network of passionate individuals. Shopping locally keeps money in the community, fosters creativity and builds a stronger, more connected city. Is there anything else you would like to add? We believe in 'Unity in the Community' – everything we do is rooted in collaboration, creativity and community spirit. Whether you're a customer, crafter or volunteer, there's a place for you in what we do. We welcome everyone to visit UNITY, explore local talent, ring the bell of gratitude and get involved in our free craft space Would you like your business to feature in our Think Local/Buy Local campaign? Contact: for more information.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New venture for Up the Garden Bath
Award winning Peterborough-based charity Up The Garden Bath says it is proud to introduce Goal2Grow, a new community focused fundraising initiative. Instead of asking for money, the innovative organisation is encouraging people to donate their pre-loved football kits. Whether it is outgrown, a spare or simply ready for a new team, your donation can help make sport more accessible for others. All donated items are carefully cleaned, sorted and sold through their UNITY store at affordable prices, providing access to quality sportswear for individuals and families on low incomes. But Goal2Grow is about more than raising funds. It champions sustainability by extending the life of valuable sportswear, reducing textile waste and removing financial barriers that can prevent young people from participating in sport. Recommended Reading: Latest planning applications submitted to Peterborough City Council It is about inclusion, wellbeing and giving everyone a fair chance to enjoy the game. Up The Garden Bath believe great things happen when people are given the space to grow creatively, socially and environmentally. With the Goal2Grow fundraiser they are blending the community's passion for nature and football to create meaningful and lasting change. All proceeds from sales will directly support Up The Garden Bath's wide range of educational and environmental community projects across Cambridgeshire. These include school based eco workshops, community gardening initiatives, sustainability education and the creation of public green spaces. Up The Garden Bath is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising environmental awareness, encouraging creativity and strengthening community connections through upcycling and practical learning experiences. Since launching, they have built a loyal following and continue to make a real difference across the region. Their UNITY store, opened in 2023, and is already a local success story, generating more than £600,000 in revenue for local crafters, makers, artists and small businesses. More than just a shop, UNITY is a thriving community hub, offering free workshops, a public crafting area and a welcoming space for people of all ages to come together to learn, create and grow. Dave and Kez said: "UNITY has shown us that when people are given the chance to grow both creatively and personally, amazing things happen. With Goal2Grow, we are bringing that spirit into new territory, combining our love for community, the environment and sport to deliver lasting impact. This is about inclusion, sustainability and giving everyone the opportunity to get involved." How to Donate: Drop off your old football kits at the award-winning collaborative community retail project UNITY in the Queensgate Shopping Centre. For more information and details about how to get involved, visit: or contact: info@ Do you have a story for Peterborough Matters? Send details to: newsdesk@
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Peterborough charity blown away with donated football kits
A charity best known for upcycling used bath tubs has launched a scheme to recycle football kits to pass on to low income Up The Garden Bath said it had asked people to donate kits, including shirts and boots, that it could sell on at an "affordable cost".The Goal2Grow project was launched on 17 May at the Peterborough Celebrates founder Dave Poulton said he had been "blown away" by the 35 shirts so far donated. The organisation runs UNITY, a community shop in Queensgate, which sells products from 50 small Poulton also runs an educational workshop alongside volunteers at Central Park in the city, to teach people about gardening, recycling, sustainability and wildlife preservation - as well as equipping them with practical DIY the Goal2Grow project, donated football kits will be cleaned and sold at the UNITY store for about £ raised would support more educational and environmental projects in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, Mr Poulton said. "The project champions sustainability by extending the life of valuable sportswear, reducing textile waste and removing financial barriers that can prevent young people from participating in sport," explained Mr Poulton."It is about inclusion, wellbeing and giving everyone a fair chance to enjoy the game."At the festival, there was a man in football shirt who took his top off and walked around the festival without a shirt."That's how powerful this campaign is turning out to be."The response is amazing. We have started collecting shirts which could cost anywhere of around £60 or more." Earlier this month, he attended a Buckingham Palace garden party with his daughter where he could meet King Charles Poulton said it was an "honour" to be in his presence and said it served to raise awareness of what the charity had achieved. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
