East Boldre Community Stores: From derelict chapel to vibrant community hub.
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When the local shop and Post Office in East Boldre were put up for sale, the community decided to create a community-owned shop. The local Baptist chapel was put up for sale in August 2022, and the community team saw this as an opportunity to secure a venue.
In 2018, when the local shop and Post Office in East Boldre were put up for sale, the community decided to create a community-owned shop. The initial plan was to extend the Village Hall, but it was not feasible due to New Forest National Park trade restrictions. The local Baptist chapel was put up for sale in August 2022, and the community team saw this as an opportunity to secure a venue.
Making a difference in the community
East Boldre has suffered from the closure of key services such as the school, GP surgery, and youth clubs, which has had a detrimental effect on community morale. This project is therefore not just about providing a shop but also about revitalizing the whole community.
Rebecca Gabzdyl from the East Boldre Community Stores Management Committee stated that the COF award was a "Godsend" as losing the chapel would have been “a final nail in the coffin”.
“We’ll run a shop but that’s almost an aside to our main aim of providing vibrant facilities to make the village feel alive again!”.
The team now sees the chapel as an ideal location, allowing for other opportunities and activities such as an outdoor space, a flexible social space in the vestry, and a kitchen for refreshments. They plan to offer a home-working hub twice a week and will host local events with the expectation that attendees will purchase refreshments to create an income stream.
The group is committed to preserving the chapel's rich history and collaborating with a local museum to offer cultural activities such as art and photography exhibitions.
Funding the project
The group raised a fantastic £225,000 via a community share offer along with almost £25,000 of local donations and also received a development grant from the Booster Fund. The local Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation was also very supportive, donating £15,000.
The Community Ownership Fund awarded the group £250,000 in capital funding and this will be used as part of the purchasing costs for the Chapel. The group also received £49,500 in revenue funding, which will cover the cost of alcohol licenses, staff training, stock, and an accounting package.
Getting the right support
In 2023, the group successfully secured COF funding. They had previously been offered funding for an earlier iteration of the project. Despite needing to return the money, this meant that the group had an excellent understanding of the application process.
The Plunkett Foundation, an official support partner of the Community Ownership Fund, provided expert advisers to help with the share offer, Community Shares Standard Mark, and COF application review. Hampshire County Council also offered support through a grants adviser session, enhancing the group's understanding of how the project fitted with local authority strategic plans.
As a result, the East Boldre group has been able to assist other projects in securing COF funding, with two subsequent applicants also finding success through their guidance
Advice to other groups
- Create a realistic business plan to showcase your intended impact and financial viability
- Build a strong and resilient team – the process is challenging at times
- Research NOMIS and deprivation data to really understand your demographic
- Engage with and involve the community for project success.
- Work with parish, district and county councils to accommodate their aims.
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