Avon Valley Community Matters (AVCM) is a charity set up by church members from the Avon Valley Benefice to help reach those in our communities who need it most. In its most recent endeavour, AVCM has opened a charity shop on Fordingbridge High Street.
Alongside a team of 15 volunteers, staff members and customers, the Mayor of Fordingbridge, Councillor Anna Wilson, attended the opening last week to cut the ribbon and show her support for the charity’s new venture. With no other charity shop in the town, there was so much excitement in the community during the build-up to the day.
AVCM supports the bereaved, runs a ‘Friendship Group’ to combat loneliness, as well as two thriving local Playgroups, Messy Church and several outreach projects for children and families. With the objective of ‘reaching out to all’, it has been a long-held dream of the charity’s Trustees to run a shop to generate income to fund these initiatives. More than just a shop selling preloved goods, the vision is also to create a safe, warm and welcoming space for the lonely and the bereaved and in time help nurture young people with Special Educational Needs, and others in need of support, by offering them valuable experience working in retail.
With an increasing focus on the environment and people being encouraged to re-use and recycle, and with social and community needs growing, the AVCM team feel – although it’s been nerve-wracking! – that the timing of the project has been perfect.
“We have been looking to run a charity shop for some time now, and it seems as if this opportunity has been an answer to prayer. With a lot of hard work and amazing support from volunteers and the community, we are so excited that our dream has finally become a reality. Please do come and support our new shop. Everyone is welcome.”
. AVCM Trustee, Revd Kate Wilson
How you can help
In order to make this dream a success, AVCM needs your help with the following:
- Volunteers to help re-stock and welcome customers
- Donations of preloved goods, including clothes, textiles, shoes, hats, bags, belts, jewellery,
bric-a-brac, books, toys and puzzles, CDs and DVDs, batteries, ink cartridges and small
electrical goods
One or two bags can be delivered to the shop during opening times; larger deliveries can be
arranged by appointment by calling 01425 540669.
If you can spare donations or your valuable time to support our wonderful new shop, we would
love to hear from you. Please email avcommunitymatters@gmail.com or call 01425 540669.
Watch a video about the opening and the wider project…
