Witherslack Community Shop

The 3R Foundation recently awarded £500 to Witherslack Community Shop towards the purchase of a new retail freezer.

Located in the rural South Lakes village of Witherslack, the Community Shop is much more than somewhere to pick up a loaf of bread or a pint of milk. It's a vital local service and friendly meeting place, particularly for older residents and those who may otherwise feel isolated.

Run almost entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers, supported by one part-time member of staff, the shop provides everyday essentials right on the village doorstep, saving residents the need to travel further afield.

Just as importantly, it provides somewhere for people to pop in for a chat, catch up with neighbours and enjoy a little company – something that can make a real difference in a small rural community.

Unfortunately, during the unusually hot weather in May, the shop's 15-year-old retail freezer failed, leaving the volunteers facing an unexpected and expensive replacement.

As a non-profit community enterprise, the shop works hard simply to cover its costs and maintain a small reserve for essential repairs and maintenance.

The 3R grant contributed £500 towards a modern, energy-efficient replacement freezer, helping the shop maintain its range of frozen foods without having to use up so much of its valuable reserves.

The newer equipment also offers improved insulation and lower energy consumption, helping keep running costs down and making the shop more sustainable in the long term.

It's another example of how a relatively modest grant can help keep an important community facility running and supporting the people who rely on it. 💜

The 3R Foundation funds grants like this through the Recycle, Reuse, Rehome charity shop in Carnforth (next to Tesco).

Every purchase in the shop helps fund grants for local charities, clubs and community groups across North Lancashire and South Cumbria. Please support the shop so we can continue helping even more organisations in our area.