People’s shop shares slices of birthday delight
RESIDENTS celebrated a decade of success for Gawsworth Community shop as its 10th anniversary was marked.
The store, on Longbutts Lane, was opened on March 10, 2011, although a formal gathering for the occasion has been delayed because of Covid restrictions.
But a special cake was made and sliced up by director and volunteer Val Shaw to be handed out to visitors.
Throughout the birthday week customers were given free entry into a prize draw for a hamper made up of donations from our local suppliers.
And resident Edith Bullock read out a humorous poem that she had written about the local products that are sold in the shop.
The community store was previously a private venture and when its owners decided to shut residents stepped in to take it over with the help of a community share issue.
Had the shop closed the next nearest supermarket would have been five miles away.
Now it opens seven days a week and has around 50 volunteers - to be both owned and run by the community.
In 2019 surplus income was reinvested to buy the adjoining ground floor flat and create a community hub from which information, support and social activities are offered.
While people cannot visit currently members of the hub have got out in lockdown to run quizzes and deliver newsletters.
The team behind the shop and hub is currently looking for a suitably experienced individual to join its board as communications director.
Anyone interested can contact Ray Shaw, Chairman at ray@gawsworthshop.co.uk.
For other volunteering opportunities email volunteering@ gawsworthshop.co.uk.