A new community shop is coming to Oban high street soon.
Hope Kitchen has teamed up with the Connecting Communities Collective to re-purpose empty premises at 113 George Street to offer second hand clothes and bargain-price homewares as well as run projects for reducing food waste and workshop sessions for remaking, repairing and upcycling.
It will also be an information point for regular updates on what is happening around town and promote the work of organisations in the area.
“We are looking forward to this space being really welcoming to the community. It will be a place to find out what’s going on, develop new skills and friendships and hopefully pick up a bargain too.
“It’s been great how people have already started to volunteer their time painting, fixing and clearing the shop ready for people to enjoy,” said shop manager Louise Murphy.
Over the past week, the collective has held an online poll to gauge people’s ideas for a
name for the shop, the results of which will be revealed soon.
“The shop will start looking for donations in the new year; please do not leave any items yet,” added Louise.
Connecting Communities Collective (CCC) is a new partnership set up in Oban thanks to three years of funding secured from the Community-Led Local Development Fund and Investing in Communities Fund.
It grew out of the understanding that by working together, essential sector organisations can save resources, share learning and serve more people in their communities. Its focus will be on developing and offering health and
wellbeing programmes and events for community members, especially those experiencing hardship associated with access to food, fuel poverty and mental health.
CCC has recruited a development officer to help organise events, link up work between organisations and explore new development opportunities.
Securing the shop lease with Hope Kitchen and the Collective’s working partners is an example of its purpose. The aim is for the shop to be sustainable by the end of its second year and bringing in a profit in the third year.
The partners at the core of the Collective are Healthy Options, Hope Kitchen, ALIEnergy, Youth Cafe and Atlantis Lesiure.
The Collective is looking for more partner organisations to join in.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the progress of the shop, any upcoming workshops or helping out can email mika@lornhealthyoptions.co.uk.