Gawsworth Community Shop is preparing to celebrate its 10th Birthday

Gawsworth Community Shop is preparing to celebrate its 10th Birthday, on the Wednesday 10th March.

Ten years on from the opening of Gawsworth Community Shop, they are preparing to celebrate its 10th Birthday on the 10th March this year. A group of local village residents raised funds from a community share offer, grants and donations to buy their village shop. It is still open 7 days a week, run by an army of dedicated volunteers today. We want to recognise this milestone when a normal celebration isn’t possible.

Since opening, originally as a shop in a box in March 2011, it has been a hive of activity and has provided the opportunity for customers and over 70 volunteers young and old from a diverse population in the village to benefit from a unique community project.

In 2019, it was agreed to reinvest surplus funds for the benefit of the community by purchasing the ground floor flat adjoining the shop to create a community hub. This project was recognised by the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund as a worthy enough cause to give a £53k funding to allow refurbishment to enable access to all, and to employ a part time Hub Coordinator to develop and manage a range of activities, providing a place for local residents to meet for coffee and a chat.

During the 2020/21 lockdown, the shop has continued to thrive as turnover has grown by 20%. It has been able to step up and service the local needs for groceries and essential shopping. Whilst some elderly and vulnerable volunteers in the shop have been shielding, others have come forward who have time on their hands due to the situation or who are furloughed.

The Hub has become a lifeline for village residents, especially the elderly and those shielding. During lockdown the community has been unable to benefit from Hub activities so the Hub has gone out to the community, hand delivering weekly quizzes and a newsletter over 300 houses plus to an ever growing email circulation list. The weekly visit has offered a lifeline and point of contact for elderly and shielding members of our community. A craft table in the Hub has provide an opportunity for the community to add their own creations and has raised thousands of pounds for local worthy causes.

There is so much more to report, as this is just a start. 10 years on and they're still here and making a positive impact in the community!

Daryl Williams (Mrs), Board Director, Gawsworth Community Shop, Macclesfield, Cheshire.