LATEST NEWS
Keep checking here for progress updates
At the beginning of September 2009 we had secured the funding that we needed to go ahead.
However, we then suffered a blow as one funder withdrew £20,000 of loan funding. We are currently trying to replace this with further loans or bonds so that anyone who can afford to lend the project money at interest rates approaching current high street rates will be welcomed with open arms. Please call 01460 249445 or e-mail to shop@theseavingtons.org to discuss the possibility.
Subject to raising this final bit of funding we still hope to start work before Christmas and if we do, the shop should be trading around Easter next year.
Earlier this year it became rather obvious that the general economic situation meant that the level of grants from public and private bodies that had been available was no longer there. The Shop Committee reluctantly accepted that if we were to have a shop at all it could not be an expensive stone building as envisaged by the planners. Fortunately the council agreed an we now have all round agreement for an alternative timber-framed building that will still be complementary to the Millennium Hall like the original scheme.
You will probably have already seen in the local newspapers that our applications for grants to the District and County Councils have been successful. and last year we were awarded a grant and loan through the CORE scheme run by ViRSA and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
If you are not yet a member of the Community Shop Association now is a good time to join – your share will cost you only £5. Similarly, if you have not yet purchased a shop loan bond or made a donation please consider doing so now.
In preparation for the opening members of the committee will soon be visiting everyone who volunteered to help on the shop and café in the shop survey of 2007.
The “Volunteer Night” held in the Millennium Hall on September 30th was a great success. This informal evening gave an opportunity to hear about the various roles we are looking for help with and to ask questions of the relevant committee members – Plenty of folk signed up so that we are sure that we can man the shop, in the meantime we would welcome further volunteers.
In the meantime the committee is continuing to arrange a number of local fund raising activities which residents were asked to support; follow this link for the programme: fund raising
As they say, watch this space and help us in any way you can - support our activities, consider a donation and see how much you can afford to loan us to be repaid in 5 years. The loan bond form is available on this link: Loan Bond
Those wishing for more informatrion should telephone David Froome on 01460 249445 or e-mail: shop@theseavingtons.org