“SturAction” – Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society Ltd

Our Story by Cheryl Basten

‘Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society Ltd’ was set up to help maintain Sturminsters reputation as a great place to live, work and play.  All profits are used to support initiatives in the Town.

‘The Community Chest,’ opened its doors Easter 2018, selling clothing, furniture and everything in between. Donations were received and sorted, all in one little shop. Within 2 years we had outgrown the space.  I had the opportunity to view Lloyds Bank for extra storage.

On viewing the Bank with the Landlord John Romans, a cheeky proposal resulted in an agreement for us to use the building as a shop.  Two weeks of hard graft with the help of many of our Volunteers and ‘The Emporium’ was born.  We opened the doors to The Emporium on 20th July 2020.  The Community Chest was restyled into a stunning Preloved Boutique selling good quality and high end/designer ladies, children’s clothing and accessories.   The Emporium sells an array of items including furniture, collectibles, antiquities, kitchenalia and much more.  It also houses ‘Dapper Chaps’ preloved Men’s clothing and a stunning pre-loved Art Gallery on the first floor.

We also team up with The Pantry to stop food waste with our Community Fridge.  The Rooms upstairs also double up as two Meeting Rooms that the Community are able to use and office space for Jacqui Wragg, the Towns events coordinator. There is also a third floor which will be renovated into office space to help embryo businesses get on their feet.

The Society became a Charity in October 2022.

Mr Romans has been so impressed in those two years with all that we have achieved for the Community and environment that he has ‘gifted’ The Emporium’ Building to the Community Benefit Society and the Town in perpetuity.

When we opened the doors to The Emporium, we never dreamt that we would need extra space, but lo and behold we recently signed a lease on Barclays to sell second hand furniture, again thanks to the generosity of John Romans.  At the moment, viewing is arranged through The Emporium, we are hoping to open the doors most Saturday mornings.  It has already become very popular and furniture is selling like hot
cakes.

So that is 2 banks that we are utilising!!

Since both The Boutique and The Emporium have been trading, we have got to know many, many small local Business’s and an idea started to formulate.

The third Bank, NatWest, we have been restyling behind boarded up windows for the last year.  The formal, corporate style of the Bank is no longer evident, but is now a wonderful eclectic, steampunk warehouse which houses fifty plus individual businesses and Artisans, mostly from The Blackmore Vale area, renting a space.  We were struggling to think of a name for this new venture as it couldn’t be pigeon-holed.  Jacqui, who loves local history did some research on the Bank and found out when it was built and ‘1855’ was born.

We decided to have a ‘soft opening week’ to iron out any hiccups before the big launch, but that week was far from that. We have had the most amazing first week, with some of the Traders having to re-stock for The Grand Opening which was on 27 th November 2022.

We are refurbishing the second phase. This is going to be used as an eclectic events room with a little stage which will be available for rental plus will house more Traders. It certainly has the ‘Wow’ factor with our very own Marble Arch.

What an incredible 4 years! 3 former banks and a Boutique with all profits being reinvested into the Town.

It’s been the most incredible journey with the most amazing volunteers, customers and colleagues and without your support and fabulous donations none of this would have been possible.

Many, many thanks for all the support we have had.

How lucky are we to live in such a wonderful and community spirited Town.

Long Live Sturminster.

Cheryl Basten, Shop Manager.
SturAction (Sturminster Newton Community Benefit Society)
20th February 2023