Alongside a team of 15 volunteers, staff members and customers, the Mayor of Fordingbridge, Councillor Anna Wilson, attended the opening of the charity shop to cut the ribbon on 27 March.

AVCM supports the bereaved, holds a Friendship Group, two thriving local playgroups, Messy Church and runs outreach projects for children and families.

With the objective of ‘reaching out to all’, it has been a long-held dream of the charity’s trustees to run a shop to generate income to fund outreach projects within the local churches and the community.

More than just a shop selling pre-loved goods, the vision is also to create a safe, warm and welcoming space for the cold, lonely and the bereaved and in time help nurture young people with Special Educational Needs, and others in need of support, by offering them valuable retail experience.

With an increasing focus on the environment, and the need to care for others being so great in the community, the AVCM team said they feel that the timing of the project is perfect.

AVCM Trustee Revd Kate Wilson said: “We have been looking to run a charity shop for some time now, and it seems as if this opportunity has been an answer to prayer. With a lot of hard work and amazing support from volunteers and the community, we are so excited that our dream has finally become a reality. Please do come and support our new shop. Everyone is welcome.”

In order to make this dream a success, the following help and donations are required:

• Volunteers to help re-stock and welcome customers
• Donations of pre-loved goods, including clothes, textiles, shoes, hats, bags, belts, jewellery, 
bric-a-brac, books, toys and puzzles, CDs and DVDs, batteries, ink cartridges and small 
electrical goods.

One or two bags can be delivered to the shop during opening times, larger deliveries can be 
arranged by appointment by calling 01425 540669.

If you can spare donations or your time to support the new shop, please email avcommunitymatters@gmail.com or call 01425 540669.