Community Spirit 
The reopening of a shop in the Seavingtons has undoubtedly seen a resurgence of community spirit for both staff and customers within the village. Although there are already several organisations which foster this spirit (Church, the Volly, Clubs and other organisations), an ever increasing number of community projects run by or in the store and cafe have also been instrumental in rekindling this spirit.
The pancake evening was primarily targeted at the youth elements in the villages but has led to a number of initiatives. Individuals are serving in the shop as part of their Duke of Edinburgh community time, others have used volunteer service to meet the community project time needed as part of the national curriculum whilst others have merely gained valuable skills, confidence and experience before going on to full employment. Further projects such as the tree planting have also helped to supplement the various youth activities which are provided by the existing youth services and organisations within the village.
But it is not only the youngsters who are benefitting. Many of us now regularly call in the shop to pick up one or two items we have run out of or simply forgotten to get with our weekly shop. A small number even use the store for their weekly shop as it saves them having to go in to Ilminster or South Petherton.
The shop’s emphasis on sourcing local produce sees us currently stocking goods from over 22 local suppliers and this number is ever increasing. This effectively allows the shop and our customers to support our local Somerset businesses which we know in the current economic climate is welcomed by them all.
One new resident to our village is volunteering for service in the store as a means of quickly getting to know other villagers and village life.
Our recent “Apple day” saw the promotion of a number of locally produced apple products and reminded many of us of our apple heritage here in Somerset.
Two football teams (one from Chard and one from Crewkerne) have this year used the Playing fields as their home ground. The shop and cafe have stayed open until the end of matches to provide the facilities (shop, cafe, toilet, phone, warmth) to players, officials and supporters. From the feedback we have received we know this service is much appreciated.
The cafe is coming into its own now that it is established and is regularly used as a meeting place not just for groups such as walkers, mothers and toddlers, Seavington get together group, Local Council, school holidays pizza day etc but also for individuals wanting peace, company and good fare from within our villages and immediate area, further afield and an increasing number of people passing through the region. Most importantly it is clearly offering a place where villagers can meet and get to know each other. One volunteer commented they had met more villagers in the 3 months they have been working at the shop than in the 11 previous years they had lived in the village.
The free internet on the PC in the cafe is regularly used by young and old alike for all number of things whilst the free wifi allows you to bring your own laptop and connect whilst having a welcome drink or more.
The small office/back room has been used by our local MP to hold his surgery, by a hypnotherapy clinic, for our village craft fair and many other events.
