Page 10 • The HERALD • 22nd June 2023 v F @heraldpublishing v DECORATING Interior and Exterior Established 1985 07867 528307 mark.blake.decorating@gmail.com FREE ESTIMATES • 10 YEAR GUARANTEE HYTHE: office.atlaswindows@gmail.com FAX/PHONE 023 8084 0441 Unit 2, Hardley Ind Est, Southampton ESTABLISHED FOR 30 YEARS THE LOCAL WINDOW COMPANY WITH THE BIG REPUTATION SUPPLY & INSTALL • Windows • Porches • Conservatories in PVCu • Doors • Choice of Colours & Woodgrain SOLENT SKIP HIRE LTD FOR ALL YOUR COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE MINI ~ MIDI ~ MAXI SKIPS ALSO CUBIC YARD BAGS OWN BAG COLLECTION AVAILABLE 023 8066 0123 01590 619700 • 01962 588288 Email: office@solentskiphire.co.uk • Re-Skimming • Rendering • Coving • Dry Lining • Tacking • Artex Covered • Floor Screeding www.tbrownplastering.co.uk Call: 07919 183989 Friendly • Reliable • Professional • Free Estimates East Boldre Community Stores (EBCS) is delighted to have completed on the purchase of East Boldre’s former Baptist chapel on Friday 12th May. eir aim is to convert it into a community shop and Post O ce to safeguard these vital services which would have been lost when the existing village shop closes this year. e chapel was closed in October 2021 and has largely been unused since 2019. By buying the chapel EBCS ensures the building’s continued community use. EBCS raised £221,700 through a community share o er in just 6 weeks with a further £23,464 in donations from local people. Securing a Community Ownership Fund award of £299,500 (part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda) in March along with grants from Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation, Cooperatives UK Booster Programme, New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority has enabled them to buy the chapel. ey hold the majority of the funds needed to repair and alter the chapel and building works will commence shortly. e community have rallied to support the project, not only nancially through the share o er but by committing their time to the project. On 14th May, just 2 days a er completion, as part of the Coronation ‘Big Help Out’, 45 people rolled up their sleeves to strip out the chapel ready for building works to commence. Project Manager Rebecca Gabzdyl said: “The response from the community has been amazing, our Big Help Out day was oversubscribed. By volunteering their time for just one day they saved the project over £5,000 but more importantly it really developed the sense of community ownership. Everyone who took part met new people and the project is helping to build stronger connections in our community.” Bev Hawker, Chair of East Boldre Parish Council, readiness for the builders. Nick ompson said, “The chapel, built in 1844, is in a rather poor state. We are now ready for building works to start which include repairing the drains, removing asbestos, demolishing the church hall to make way for a car park, addressing damp, woodworm and strengthening the roof. Solar panels will halve our electricity costs and we will install an EV charging point. We will also create a community space in what was the chapel’s Vestry.” EBCS aims to be trading in October 2023 once these works are complete. Once open for business Chapel Stores will provide 2 full time jobs and diverse volunteering opportunities. e much larger space will allow Chapel Stores to o er a broad range of products at varied price points and it will have a focus on local produce. East Boldre Community Stores Complete Purchase of Chapel who took part in the Big Help Out said: “It was a fantastic day, so friendly and happy and everyone worked so hard. It was good to see a wide range of people from all parts of the community working together, people who would not normally meet each other. On behalf of the parish council, I’d like to thank the shop team for all their efforts – the day was so well organised and went without a hitch despite the number of people and different tasks involved.” e following Sunday saw a further band of local volunteers tackle additional tasks in Volunteers at the Big Help Out Local Couple Take On 150 Mile Pilgrimage Sue and David Blomley have recently taken on a walking pilgrimage to raise much needed funds for St John’s Church in Hythe. Sue is perhaps better known to Herald readers as the ‘angel lady’ who asks for local knitters to make angels for the church each year. e couple, who are both in their 80’s, started their 15 day pilgrimage at the end of May, walking around 150 miles from Winchester to Canterbury, hoping to raise money for a number of projects at the church including an overhaul of both the sound and lighting systems. e roof is also in need of repair, with the leaks also causing internal damage to some of the walls that will need to be re-plastered and painted. If you would like to sponsor Sue and David please visit: www.justgiving.com/page/ blomleypilgrimage or you can pop a cash donation into the o ce in St John’s Hall in Hythe.
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