In the past few years, it has become more evident that the Chard area doesn’t have enough good quality spaces for the community to use.

In the past few months, a team has come together to try and rectify this- looking for a long-term, multi-purpose, adaptable building in which to operate. Following the success of the Chard food box scheme last year, the Chard Pantry needs a home, so our more vulnerable families can get access to good food at a greatly reduced rate.

We also want to use our space as somewhere to hold workshops and classes in activities as diverse as flower-arranging, art, crafts, a repair cafe, advice drop-in, woodworking and anything else that the community- and other community groups needing extra space-can think of a need for. On this, we would value your ideas of what else the space can be used for.

The great news is that we have secured a shop-front building on Fore St, at least as a temporary home so we can start to offer these services and spaces. We will operate as a not-for-profit community group, offering the space to local organisations and for classes at as close to cost price as we can.

In order to access longer-term, higher-value funding, we need to demonstrate that we have a broad support base in the community and that there is a need for those community services so, we are doing a Crowdfunder to show that we have support.

We aim to raise £2000.

This would secure us in the building for the first three months while we apply for other funding AND it will show potential funders that we are serious and have support.

In the long run, we would like to be able to buy a bigger space, offer more services and, perhaps, register as a charity.

We are getting help from Somerset Community Council and SPARK Somerset but, right now, we are asking for a few pounds from those in our community who are willing and able to show their support.

With grateful thanks from the team at the Chard Community Hub.