The Big Move - Your Questions Answered

Exciting times! If you haven’t heard already we are fundraising for our big move so thought a blog might address some of questions you inevitably have.

Where are you moving to?

We are moving next to Costa in the old “Prestwich Social” , a much bigger space but still in the heart of Prestwich.

Why are you moving?

We are moving because the Longfield Centre is being redeveloped and we would have had to move anyway. Instead of moving into a temporary location we proposed to our members that it was the right time to try and find a larger premises and expand the business. They voted in favour of the move.

You have members? How does that work?

Yes we are a co-operative which means we are owned by our members who each have a share in the business. Over 10 years ago over 400 local people helped start Village Greens as an alternative to large supermarkets.

How does membership work?

Members invest a minimum of £100 and then have a share in Village Greens. They can vote on important decisions and have a say in the way the business is run. They also benefit from having a membership card which gives discounts on certain products.

What does being a member involve?  

As a member you are a co-owner and play an important part in the future of Village Greens.  We value our members' input in all aspects of the business from feedback about how we are doing to practical help and involvement in events.  You can be as involved as you like!  

How much have you raised so far and how much do you need to raise?

We have raised an almost £30K so far but we need to raise £50K to fully fund the move.

Why should members pay for this, surely the council should help as they are redeveloping your current premises?

Unfortunately we haven’t had a financial contribution from Bury Council and as such need to raise the funds ourselves.

What’s the plan for the new space?

We hope to:

• Expand our range of organic, ethical goods

• Open a cosy café serving fresh, local food

• Create a welcoming community space for events, workshops, and meetups

• Stay true to our environmental mission with even more sustainable options

How can I help?

You can help in loads of ways!

From £100: Become a member. More info here.

From £10: Support our Crowdfunder. More info here.

From £1: Increase your existing shareholding if you are already a member.

From £1: Donate some money. More info here.

As much as you can afford: Continue shopping with us! We really appreciate your business.

For free: Share our posts on social media, like, comment, engage. Write us a Google review. Talk to us about why you love being a member or love shopping with us. All of this helps.

As a time commitment:

·         Cleaning and fitting out the new shop on Saturdays - look out for posts on social media

·         Hosting a stand at Prestwich Clough Day on Sunday 18th May - 11am - 5pm

·         Leaflet drops - distributing fundraising leaflets across Prestwich homes, events and businesses

For any of the above please contact volunteers@village-greens-coop.co.uk

Why are you starting a Crowdfunder when there’s options to become a member or donate?

The simple answer is that not only do we need to hit our original fundraising target of at least £50,000, but since we started the strip out and refit additional costs have arisen, meaning the more we can raise, the better position we will be in. The Crowdfunder simply offers a different way for the local community and businesses to get involved!

Alongside our fundraising we have been working hard to reuse and recycle items left in the old unit, and to harness the strength of our amazing volunteers to keep contractor costs to the minimum.  Working together to make the new space ready we have hit many unforeseen challenges not least the need to remove and repair the whole floor!

By talking to the contractors who are working on the redevelopment, we have secured much needed skills and resource to help with the huge job of replacing the floor, and building the shell for the all new community space, but we still  need help to raise additional money to help us develop this community space and to fund additional pieces of kit that will put us in the best possible position to  make the space the vibrant, sustainable hub we know it can be. 

This money will help us to decorate and furnish the space, and to purchase additional items required with the expanded shop including a palette truck to help with deliveries, technology to assist with wider ordering, and new refrigeration to replace some of our existing kit that is at the end of its life.

The shopping list is long, so if we can raise more, even better.  We could then buy equipment to help us expand our offer with things like outdoor seating, baby changing facilities, kids play area equipment, a washing machine, a chest freezer, a tablet to take orders remotely etc. 

So in short there are options and different ways you can help but every pound raised through whichever means will help us realise our ambition. 

Read more about our Crowdfunder here:  https://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/grow-village-greens-shop-caf-community

When will you move?

Work is progressing at pace but we don't have a date yet. Watch this space.

If you have any more questions which haven’t been addressed here then please do let us know. We look forward to hearing from you and in the meantime thank you to all of you for reading, volunteering your time, becoming a member, donating, grafting in the new space and helping us realise our dream!

15 May 2025