Green Living Chorley: Community Shop/Cafe/Hub

Aim

Green Living Chorley needs a space where the community can shop, eat, learn and connect. An 'eco-hub' is the answer!

Who Are You & What Is Green Living Chorley?

Hello!

'Green Living Chorley' was started in October 2018 By Rachelle Bell & Emma Kilburn. Two friends who met on the 'gram and bonded over bamboo earbuds.

That is us below *waves*

Initially, it started as a Facebook group for a handful of local people who cared about doing their bit for the environment. So we shared tips and ideas about how we could reduce our waste. Over the next few months, the numbers of the group were on the rise. It was amazing to have this online community but we knew that we wanted to have real-life connections too. In March 2019 we hosted our first 'Green Living Chorley Meeting'. Four people showed up, that is our humble beginnings!

Fast forward to now,

We have:

• Over 860 members in our Facebook Group.
• Hosted eight monthly meet-ups, each one with a different theme & speakers. We run out of chairs each time!
• Taken part in several outreach events on Chorley Market, Taste of Chorley & our upcoming Christmas Stall with Totally Locally Chorley.

• A shiny new website www.greenlivingchorley.co.uk.
• Given a talk to a local Guides group about single-use plastic.

• Set up Plastic Free Chorley with Surfers Against Sewage.
• Protested! We supported the local schools in the Global Climate Strike.
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• Hosted a Clothes Swap, Seed Swap, Toy Swap, Book Swap...with more scheduled!
• Collaborated with Chorley Council to help with their upcoming Green Agenda.
• Collaborated with Chorley Green Party on their Consultation Day.

PHEW, we have been busy!

To grow our group and reach people outside of our little eco-circle we need dedicated premises.

An hour-long meeting once a month has certainly made an impact but imagine the difference we could make if we were open every day! Many people don't use Facebook, or can't make a Monday night meeting. We want our message to be accessible to all.

Our average number of attendees is between 30-40 people, that fills our current meeting venue and we know more people wish to attend.

So picture this:

• An eco-shop that sells unpackaged whole foods, grains, pasta, herbs, spices, tea & coffee. Earth-friendly reusable items, Non-toxic personal care and a collection of curated homeware and gifts made in Chorley. Local & lovely!
• A cafe/event space where people can meet for a cuppa and a slice of homemade vegan cake. They can relax, chat about the weather or conjure a master plan to save the world. It is a space for everyone to feel welcome.
• What if I told you that all the profits from the shop and the cafe would go directly back into the Chorley community? We aim to operate as a Social Enterprise which means your cup of tea could plant a tree-pretty cool hey?

We absolutely love our Green Living Community here in Chorley. Us humans are social creatures. We need to be out in nature, be involved in meaningful work, have a sense of belonging and feel like we are making a difference to thrive. We weren't designed to stay indoors and look at our screens all day.

We want to take action against eco-anxiety by uniting the community, connecting amateurs with experts, students with teachers and together, finding inventive solutions to local issues. We also want to empower our customers to make the best decisions they can when shopping by providing quality, local cost-effective options.

Why Crowdfunder?

Chorley is surrounded by incredible scenery from the moors, the woodlands and the canals. We want to keep these spaces green and help to protect our wildlife and native species. 

'Green Living Chorley' has been fundraising for local projects such as tree-planting, a community fridge project & other ideas championed from the community.

We are using Crowdfunder to gain some momentum so that we can start making an impact before it is too late. The planet needs us NOW.

Raising funds this way means that we can start debt-free, we want to begin our green projects straight away rather than prioritise loan repayments. We also have freedom from outside investors which means that our community can decide the best way of using the funds.

What Will The Money Be Spent On?

Collectively, we are an incredibly resourceful group of people, with many skills and trades. So we are able to save money by purchasing items secondhand, upcycling and asking for help with labour costs. There are however, some items that can't be scrimped on such as:

Gravity bins. These containers keep the food fresh, reduce spillage and food waste, are easy to use by all and finally, they look beautiful. At around £200 each though, they ain't cheap.

Locally grown & organic. We want to focus on local items as much as possible. Sure it would be cheaper to import some products but that goes against our values. Organic items are more expensive but for the benefits to our health and the environment we think it is worth a few extra pence.

So in a nutshell, the money raised will help us with fixtures, fittings and stocking the space with incredible, low-waste & sustainable items.

The people of Chorley have spoken, we conducted a market research survey and there were over 220 participants. Everyone said they would consider changing their shopping habits if it helped the local community. Of course, some people were concerned about price.  The great thing about shopping without single-use packaging is that you can buy as much or as little as you like. Plus packaging usually equates about 1/5 of the price of the product. We aim to be as competitive as possible when it comes to value for money.

Testimonials

"At a time when I have become increasingly despondent about climate change the group and the way it is being run by Rachelle and Emma has provided some vital inspiration. I love the meetings, the Facebook pages and innovations such as the now weekly planned buy sell and swap sessions' Mandy 

"Before I found GLC, I felt frustrated and confused as to why no-one else felt the same way as me about the climate emergency! When I first joined GLC I was squealing with delight as I scrolled down the page. I had found other like-minded people who were sharing practical ways of living greener and reducing plastic waste. Such a lovely group of local people with some excellent suggestions and ideas!" Emma

"The group has given new hope and new confidence to those who can make changes with local business and local council, which in turn helps us as a community. I love the topics we cover and love seeing how everyone gets involved and wants to know more." Lynne

Rewards

We have some amazing rewards in exchange for your pledges, follow our social media for more detailed description of our prizes! We do really hope that you will support our campaign. Every penny counts. We are choosing the 'All or Nothing' Crowdfunder option which means if we don't achieve our target we get nothing. Nada!

If you are unable to support financially there are still other ways you can help us:

• We would love it if you share this page far and wide via Social Media.
• Show it to your eco-warrior pals (or those who need a nudge to be greener!)
• Write to Chorley Council and say how much you would love to see our project succeed.

We are so, SO grateful for all the support we have had so far in our first year. By supporting our Crowdfunder you will be making a huge impact on our Chorley community.

Thank you,

Rachelle & Emma <3

Founders, Green Living Chorley

This project successfully funded on 18th December 2019