An update on the Roots Commmunity

The new team have been in charge of Roots for just over a month so here is an update. There are five parts to their work:

• Refills.
• Community.
• Crowdfunder.
• Café.
• Hall.

Refills: The turnover for the first month was a little more than anticipated and has covered the rent, suppliers and wages. However, more growth is needed for the business to be sustainable. Please eep shopping at Refills, and encouraging others to do so! Did you know there is a click and collect option on the website? https://www.rootsgloucester.org.uk/refills.

Community: Roots relies on its community of members and volunteers to keep things running and bring joy to the wider Kingsholm community. The new company currently has 21 members, with others connected through a WhatsApp group and email list. We'd love you to join in to the extent that you are able! If you want to join the WhatsApp group just send your number to RootsRescue@yahoo.com. There is a community meal on Tuesday evening – contact Owen (refills@rootscoffee.org.uk) at least 24 hours beforehand if you want to go along, or just pop into Rotts Refills and tell them how you can help with the project.

Crowdfunder: The crowdfunder has reached an impressive £11,420 over the past four weeks – over one third of the way to the target. The money has been used to purchase the trade and assets of the original Roots businesses and to offset the rent on the premises for the first 2 months. The priority is to reach the target as soon as they can and build a solid foundation to re-open the café. The link is: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roots-rescue/.

Stop Press!! The campaign will be getting a boost from a special community meal on Tuesday 23 April, which will be featured on ITV West Country.

Cafe: This is the most challenging but most exciting part of the project. The business is still listening to the community and collecting ideas. Work at the moment included exploring the vision of the community, exploring offers from volunteers, including: cooking, training, community food distribution, nutrition, pricing and content of menus. The current focus is on increasing the use of Refills as a supplier and producing home-cooked lunches and catering for the community space users. At the heart of this is developing the Community Kitchen that was envisaged at the start-up of Refills.

Hall: We're beginning to have a variety of groups booking the community hall. A Little Tots group is almost ready to restart, Knit and Natter are planning to return on a Monday morning and there is a weekly yoga class. There are plans for a craft fair in June, and an art exhibition before that. Board gamers and other community interest groups are coming together. What would you like to see happening in the space? Is there something you could contribute? If so, please get in touch via Rootsrescue@yahoo.com. More information about the venue is available on the website: https://www.rootsgloucester.org.uk/venue.

So, a quick summary:

• Refills – use it;
• Community – join it;
• Crowdfunder – support it;
• Cafe – wait for it;
• Hall – book it!