Latest news with #communityshop
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
School holiday pop-up community food shop to open in Ashmore Park
A new pop-up community food shop is to open on Saturday to support families during the school has been set up in a mobile office unit in Ashmore Park in Wolverhampton by Caring Hearts which already runs a shop there offering pre-loved clothes, toys and household are plans for a permanent community shop at the site in Griffiths Drive but a temporary unit has been established for the holidays, Neil Rutter, manager of Caring Hearts said."We really want to help our local community access great food at great prices and, working with the council, we've been able to open this pop-up shop just in time to help families over the long-school summer holidays," he added. "We have a large group of regular customers who come to the main shop for clothes, shoes, toys and a host of other items, so they can now get their groceries at the same time."Residents must fill in a membership form and pay £5 to join, the city council shop joins several now set up in the city including the flagship Central Shop and Pomegranate Cafe at the Queen's Building in Victoria Square in the city were established through the government's Household Support Fund and are run day-to-day by staff and volunteers at community centres and hubs like Caring Hearts, the council Stephen Simkins, council leader, said he supported another shop opening for residents and praised the work of the volunteers."This is great timing and I congratulate Caring Hearts for creating this pop-up now while they wait for the permanent shop," he said. "It shows how in tune they are with the people they serve and the understanding they have of how tough the summer holidays can be for some families." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Vital' Wiltshire village community shop marks 20 years
A volunteer-run village shop which locals have called a "vital part of the community" is celebrating its 20th Community Shop was opened in 2005 by people in the village, near Devizes in Wiltshire, following the closure of the local butchers and Post shop is holding a tea party on Sunday 29 June where around 100 villagers will come together to mark 20 years since it opened."We do laugh because we could almost write a book about the things people talk about in the shop," said manager Steph Czakalo. "People come in and really love to have a chat". The shop was a product of "years of hard work" by a small group of villagers who rallied together when the Post Office closed in 2002."The first thing we did was try to establish whether the village actually wanted a shop then we recruited around 54 volunteers that we trained up," resident Paul Bancroft told BBC Radio Wiltshire."I think it's absolutely magnificent, and the shop has matured hugely."Ms Czakalo started volunteering at the shop after she moved to the area around 10 years ago."I think it was one of the reasons why I wanted to move to Urchfont, because there's not many villages where you can find a pub and a lovely shop and a great community," she said."We've tried to make it something special for all the villagers. They can pop in and buy things or we'll deliver to them."If somebody's stuck at home and they can't get out, we can pop their supplies round." The shop holds regular coffee mornings which villagers say gives them a chance to connect."We've been coming here a long time, I love the coffee hub," said resident Alison Taylor."I've been coming I think practically since it started. You can walk up here on your own and meet loads of friends."It's a vital part of the community."
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Community shop boosted by influx of strawberries
A community shop which 'rescues' surplus food has been given a boost after receiving a huge influx of strawberries. The Vital Village community shop in Thames Ditton sells surplus food to the community at discounted prices from various places, including supermarkets and warehouses. Earlier this week the shop received "about 3,000 berries" from partners including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Sainsbury's. The shop's founder, Vicky Zadeh, says the inundation of strawberries has proven "super popular". She said: "They are bringing people from far and wide from around Thames Ditton. Many haven't even seen us or used us before - and it's changing the perception of what we do." The community shop forms part of a community centre leased to Vital Village last year. Ms Zadeh said the shop provides food for anyone, "whether your reason is from a financial perspective, or whether you want to rescue some food and do your bit for the environment". The shop is run by almost 90 volunteers, including Alison Barnett, who said interest has been "phenomenal" since the berries arrived. She said: "We've had people who say, 'well I've lived in Thames Ditton for so many years and I didn't know you were here until the berries news got out'." An M&S spokesperson said: "We work closely with our suppliers to reduce food waste at source and in-store, through our partnership with redistribution platform Neighbourly - making sure any edible surplus food reaches those who need it most in the community. "Last weekend, we had more strawberries left than usual so our team donated them." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New start-up to take over community centre Vital Village Community Hub
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thames Ditton community shop boosted by influx of strawberries
A community shop which 'rescues' surplus food has been given a boost after receiving a huge influx of Vital Village community shop in Thames Ditton sells surplus food to the community at discounted prices from various places, including supermarkets and this week the shop received "about 3,000 berries" from partners including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Sainsbury' shop's founder, Vicky Zadeh, says the inundation of strawberries has proven "super popular". She said: "They are bringing people from far and wide from around Thames Ditton. Many haven't even seen us or used us before - and it's changing the perception of what we do."The community shop forms part of a community centre leased to Vital Village last Zadeh said the shop provides food for anyone, "whether your reason is from a financial perspective, or whether you want to rescue some food and do your bit for the environment". The shop is run by almost 90 volunteers, including Alison Barnett, who said interest has been "phenomenal" since the berries said: "We've had people who say, 'well I've lived in Thames Ditton for so many years and I didn't know you were here until the berries news got out'."An M&S spokesperson said: "We work closely with our suppliers to reduce food waste at source and in-store, through our partnership with redistribution platform Neighbourly - making sure any edible surplus food reaches those who need it most in the community."Last weekend, we had more strawberries left than usual so our team donated them."
BBC News
25-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Community shop near Bristol run entirely by volunteers gets King's Award
A village shop has been presented with the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK and equivalent to an Community Shop in Bristol has been entirely run by volunteers since it opened in 2009. The ceremony was held on 24 May, when Edward Gillespie OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, formally presented the award on behalf of the Brian Wyatt said it was a "wonderful recognition" of the volunteers. Residents gathered for the ceremony, with Deputy Lieutenants Susie Hewson-Lowe and Caroline Penley also in attendance. Mr Wyatt said: "Our community shop is entirely run by an amazing team of volunteers. "They not only keep the shop running smoothly but also offer a friendly face to everyone who walks through the door. "In doing so, they've created something truly special – a warm, welcoming place that sits at the heart of the village. The King's Award for Voluntary Service was established in 2002 to celebrate the work of volunteer groups making a significant impact in their communities. The shop was among 281 groups selected last year to receive the award.
