Herald December 2024

Village Newspaper 353
October 2024
Sally Bailey, who coordinates the shop’s volunteer rota, and her husband Stephen helped on the original working party when they had only just met. Now in retirement they are helping again.
Sally explained: “The village had a problem with loneliness and a drop-in had failed to work. Many of us had been busy running Blue Peter bring and buy sales with good results and we wanted to support Fair Trade initiatives. From this, the Rainbow Shop was born as a sign of hope and promise.
“Over the years, it’s become a local meeting space, open every day except Sundays and bank holidays - in this way serving people locally as well as internationally.”
Jez Gowers-Cromie, Christian Aid’s Church Engagement and Fundraising Officer for the East Midlands, said: “I want to thank The Rainbow Shop and all the wonderful volunteers who have worked there over the years for the way you have made a difference not only in the lives of the local community, but also helped some of the poorest communities around the world.”
Christian Aid supporters help millions of people in the most vulnerable communities transform their lives. Last year, the organisation reached 3.3 million people through 275 programmes, from savings and loans associations to farming co-operatives, and climate disaster risk training to healthcare schemes.
HARD WORKING VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING AT THE RAINBOW SHOP
The Rainbow Shop, next to St Andrew’s Church, in Countesthorpe, has been selling goods and offering refreshments since 1984, to help boost the funds of international development charity, Christian Aid.
Over the years, the staff have raised around £275,000 to help vulnerable communities around the world with humanitarian aid and long-term development projects.
To mark their anniversary, Rainbow Shop volunteers held a celebration at St Andrew’s Church.
Among the guest speakers was Rev Brian Davis, who started the enterprise in 1984 alongside wife Sylvia, following shock TV coverage of the plight of people starving in Ethiopia.
Rev Davis said despite moving away from the village some years ago, he felt proud of the work of the volunteers.
“I’m amazed and humbled by the way the team continued to keep the Rainbow Shop running for 40 years, raising so much for Christian Aid. These wonderful people never lost the vision that every pound
raised will help vulnerable communities in many parts of the world.”
The Rainbow Shop sells good-as-new clothing, wholefoods, Fairly Traded products, cards, books, toys, bric-a- brac and other items, as well as offering information on local places and events. Customers are welcomed by the staff of volunteers, and can also sit and chat and enjoy a coffee, tea or soft drink.
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IN THIS ISSUE OF YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
25th Anniversary
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ownership of parks Details of this PAGE PAGE
of u3a launching 5 in the village
and open spaces in years firework 9 the village explained 10 display at Glebe
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