Fordingbridge community shop launches share offer to help stock its new and improved premises

The volunteer team at The Green Gram in Fordingbridge are looking to help more customers reduce their environmental impact as they move into a larger outlet.

It comes after a successful first year for the community shop, whose container refills for food, cleaning products and toiletries have saved an equivalent 372kg of plastic from landfill.

Their new site, the former Harrison’s building at 23 High Street, will also be accessible to more customers with its level entranceway.

Committee member Jo Anderson said: “We opened The Green Gram as a Community Benefit Society with a share offer, allowing members of the community to invest both physically and emotionally in the shop.

“Our first round of share funding went extremely well, and we’ve now launched our second share open to existing and new members to help fund the move.

“With sustainability and the environment as a key focus and our motto of ‘Reuse, Refill and Repeat,’ we know our work makes a difference to our local community – as well as being more cost-effective than a throwaway society.”

Shares cost £10 with a purchase limit of £2,500, or 250 shares. Applications are open to anyone aged 16 or over until 17 September.

The Green Gram are aiming to raise £15,000, with a portion of the profits going towards grants for local environmental and social projects.

• thegreengram.org