Taunton Chamber Members help to set up Coronavirus Community Shop and Food Producers & Suppliers Website
A few weeks ago we shared the details of the volunteer Coronavirus Community Hub which had been set up on Facebook to offer needy and vulnerable Tauntonians help and support with isolation, shopping, prescription collection etc. Over the weeks the Community has grown to over 60,000 with offshoot groups covering every area of Taunton.
Evidence showed that Wilton and Sherford had a large demand for volunteer support due to the concentration of elderly population, yet has no shopping facilities of it’s own. The idea for a Community not for profit Shop was born and we are delighted to announce that through the hard work and dedication of volunteers lead by Natalie Dyson, plus the support and expertise of a number of our Taunton Chamber members, the shop opened its doors on Monday 13th April, after a ‘virtual’ opening ceremony lead by Cllr Francesca Smith, Mayor of Taunton.
The shop is open daily 10am – 1pm and is located at Middleway Meeting Hall, Churchill Way,TA1 3QW, Taunton. 01823 212009. Local low cost deliveries are also being offered by the volunteer team. Visit the shop page here: https://www.facebook.com/wascic
Coordinator for the Taunton Coronavirus Community Group Natalie Dyson writes:
It really is utterly unbelievable to think what our little team has achieved in under two weeks. We have gone from zero to a team of 60,000 volunteers! We set up a not for profit Community Interest company, obtained start up funding, recruited volunteers, opened a business bank account, appointed accountants, built relationships with stockists, begged and borrowed from all over Taunton and were met with incredible kindness by the people who donated things, we designed marketing materials and an advertising campaign, built a website, wrote an operational procedure which most multinationals would envy, we price matched, cleaned, stocked, priced, programmed tills, learned all about health and safety, food safety, COVID19 regulations, worked with the Council to open a food business, obtained business insurance and managed a conference call daily still with a smile on our faces! Really I am humbled beyond belief at the amazing skill set we have between us and the camaraderie we have developed.
Big shout out to Albert Goodman (accounting expertise to set up the CIC), Barclays UK (for helping to expedite the bank account set up), Mr Miles Tea Rooms (Colin Barrell for SAGE advice and many contacts), Chartered Trustees (Libby Lisgo, Francesca Smith), Somerset West & Taunton District Council, Helen Louise Phillips, Nu Taunton for your donation and contacts , Rocket and Bird for artwork, Kat Bowden at The Vivary Arms whose idea this was to start with, Gundenham Farm and Dairy, Liz Summers for the best potatoes ever, Glyder Graphic Design and the lovely Bethan Baigent for the banner, leaflets and posters, BBC Somerset for the airtime, Izzi Stockton Bridal (Isobel Leigh-Ewers)) and Jennifer McLean for working like absolute trojans to make this happen and managing the shop, the people who have stepped up to volunteer at the shop, Adam Townley at Townley Insurance Brokers (advice and setting up our insurance), Eleonora Stella of Stella Creations for fabric, the countless donations of egg boxes and shelving, Tristan at A and T refurbished refrigeration, Bridgwater & Taunton College Catering team, Taunton Chamber of Commerce, Lynne White for the beautiful bunting, Andrew Pulsford and the amazing team of volunteers for delivering leaflets and continuing to help the people of this community, and last but by no means least Andrew Samuel…. where would be be without your hard graft and operational and IT skills pulling all this together..WHAT A TEAM!
Directory of Local Food Producers and Suppliers
Another fantastic resource that has been created by the volunteer Coronavirus Community Support Group is a directory of local food producers and suppliers – available online and as an electronic brochure – another much needed resource as people limit the number of essential journeys they make, are self isolating, as well as a way to identify and support local businesses. Many volunteers were involved in gathering and collating the information, including Natalie Dyson, Dixie Darch from Taunton Green Parents, Trish Caller from Genius PR & Events, Jerri Rosheen Bosley, Jane Lindstrand, Lorrie Kelly and Danielle Chandler from The Crescent Clinic. The electronic brochure was designed by Sally Maidment from Design Bean.
Visit the Website here: https://www.simplysig.shop/
Download the Electronic Brochure here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cxe6846ndj1unjz/CCHT%20-%20A-Z%20Food%20Directory.pdf?dl=0&fbclid=IwAR0Dras27n4Yr7xfservmmFmgliwAxjx6AiNoRyFENNqbGb0lgVooSRNWhY