Celebrations have been underway for Gawsworth residents as their Community Shop run by volunteers celebrated its 10th Birthday on the 10th March.
Due to social distancing restrictions, a formal gathering has been delayed until later on in the year but in the meantime a few things were put in place to mark the occasion.
On the 10th March customers were treated to a piece of Birthday cake which was cut by Councillor Smetham on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of Chairman Ray Shaw, Shop Director, David Smetham, Director Val Shaw and Shop Supervisor Shonna Allen.
Throughout the Birthday week, each customer was given free entry into a prize draw that consisted of a hamper made up of donations from our local suppliers including, Chatwins Bakery, Forest Gin, Granelli’s Ice cream, Hill Valley Foods, Marshal Spearings butchers, Minters Fine Foods, Newtons Dairy, Nigel Wilcox butchers, Paces Farm Eggs, Spark Lane Fruit and Veg, and Wincle Brewery.
Gawsworth’s own Pam Ayers, Edith Bullock, read out a humorous ode that she had written about the virtues of the local products that are sold in the shop.
On Friday 12th, local MP, David Rutley paid a visit to the shop to join in the celebrations and draw the winner of the prize draw and also to look around the community hub where he also met Alex Price, (Hub Director) Janet Keates (Hub Manager) and Neil Phillips (Shop Director and refurbishment Project Manager)
The hub which has been developed through reinvesting the shops takings to buy the building next door and supported with funding from the National Lotteries Reaching Community Fund, has been a lifeline for the village residents during COVID, reaching out to residents with newsletters, quizzes and a craft table to raise money for local charities. The Hub will come in to its own when the restrictions are lifted and groups will be able to meet for social interest gatherings or to meet friends for a coffee and chat.
Gawsworth Community Shop and Hub are currently looking for a suitably experienced individual to join their Board in a newly created role of Communications Director. A key element of this volunteer role is to proactively promote new and existing facilities to all sectors of the community. For further details, please visit www.gawsworthshop.co.uk or contact Ray Shaw, Chairman at ray@gawsworthshop.co.uk. For information on other current volunteering opportunities please email volunteering@gawsworthshop.co.uk
Following his visit to Gawsworth Community Shop, David Rutley said, “As a keen supporter of the Gawsworth Community Shop, I was pleased to be invited to take part in its 10th Birthday celebrations. The hardworking volunteer team which runs the store have built up a great reputation for the goods they sell, but their work is much more important than this as the shop is at the very heart of the community. I would like to thank all those who work at the shop for all that they do to support local residents and wish them continued success in the years ahead.”