Welcome to the first edition of the Parracombe Community Trust Quarterly newsletter for 2025, which aims to bring you the latest news, updates and events from each project / committee.
There’s lots of exciting things happening, so grab a cuppa, and read on to see what’s new…
What’s new at the Pavilion Shop and Cafe?
Our stalwart Pavilion Stores staff and volunteers are gearing up for a busy April with the Easter Holidays upon us and more fine weather forecast to bring out old and new customers in the shape of walkers and cyclists. There’s always a big welcome for new volunteers who fancy joining our friendly Pavilion team so, don’t be shy, just pop in to get signed up.
Most of you will know that Brian Dallyn has taken over as chair of the Community Trust’s shop team, succeeding Jo Harrison. Jo steered the shop from its launch almost three years ago – where did that time go – to become a thriving business and community hub. She remains on the Trust’s shop committee and her experience and retail knowhow will of course be invaluable. Brian is a familiar figure to everyone in the Parracombe area and is himself a regular shop volunteer. Having run a busy and successful farm business for decades we’re fortunate to have such a capable successor to Jo.
The year ahead is going to be challenging for all small businesses as operating costs rise with inflation and wages increase in line with the national minimum wage. We’re also having to absorb a 28% hike in water bills. Set against these headwinds we’ll be switching away from our current electricity provider and expect to make considerable savings as a result. We’re also forecasting a 6% year-on-year growth in the business. All in all, the shop is in good shape to continue serving the Parracombe area with great-value groceries, the best local produce, fantastic locally-produced crafts and gifts, legendary cakes and home-cooking in the café and high-quality luxury items (because treats also matter). As ever, we’re grateful for the support of all customers. Buying from us is the best way to secure our future.
Finally, a reminder that we’re always on the lookout for volunteers who could take on the odd back-office role – ideal for anyone working from home. This might be anything from assisting with invoicing, overseeing payroll and pensions, co-ordinating volunteers, helping run the shop rota, seeking and applying for grants or assisting with IT. Put simply, if you’ve a skill you can offer it’s a racing certainty we can put it to good use!
A quick update from the Affordable Housing Project
We are awaiting imminent completion of legal papers covering the sale of the land along with a Section 106 agreement to ensure that occupancy is restricted to local people. Our housing association partner Hastoe has secured approval in principle from its board and once the documents have been signed by all parties, including the landowner, Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon District Council we can make a formal bid to Homes England for funding. We’ll provide further updates as soon as we can.
All things Hall
It’s comforting to see that the Village Hall continues to be used regularly for diverse events including the School, Parish Council and PCT meetings; Pilates; art group; coffee mornings; private parties and several musical practices, as well as the brilliant Beaford productions. As always, we thank all groups for taking advantage of the intended low cost rate, there to encourage its broad use.
The Committee; in particular Jaye and Karen, have been working on the Bar Protocol which we hope will encourage more volunteers to come forward and be trained to offer assistance with this most important aspect of fundraising.
There was a blissful few weeks, where the control for the Hall heating was upgraded and could be better controlled. The base temperature setting meant that the hall felt more acceptable and greater accuracy could be used to heat the hall at required times. Sadly yet another storm brought this to an abrupt end when strong winds and heavy rain came through the roof and drenched the new controller!
Sadly we now only have the ‘Boost’ button available, meaning that each session should be boosted before use and then again during. Hopefully the spring will be here soon, buying us more time…
After inspection of the roof, we realise that the temporary coating we as volunteers had given the roof hoping for 5 years grace, had been stripped away in 2 years by a succession of harsh and cruel storms. We are now in a position where we have to repeat our remedial action before we can replace the controller in a waterproof box! In negotiation with the Board, we have decided that this is best done by professionals with ‘Cromopol’ coating and repairs are imminent for half of the lower rear roof. If this is successful, we hope to repair the other half of the lower roof. Thankfully a back payment of the Feed in Tariff from the PV solar panels is due any day so that will pay for that!
While routine maintenance continues on our poor tired hall, the Strategic Development Group now have the final breakdown of costs required for our much needed refurbishment and extension from the Quantity Surveyors; Structural engineers and architect.
Although the total figure is almost a million pounds, this daunting figure is in the process of being broken down into more manageable chunks: 1) car park; 2) new extension; 3) integration into the hall 4) main building refurbishment.
With this in mind, and considering the current world view and poor funding situation, added to the water ingress, we have decided that we have no option but to look at an alternative strategy to address the roof and back wall issues, before we tackle the whole development.
We do intend to work on the car park-thus evoking the planning permission, but also look in detail at how we can tackle the immediate priorities. There always was a need for a ‘Plan B’ approach, so we are just looking at realistic options… Either way, we have to raise money – small or large amounts – to keep the Hall going.
We will soon be in touch in all the usual ways, to ask for your help and support for this mammoth task… let the fun commence!
…and that’s a wrap for this update!
Please do let us know via email if you have any feedback on how we could improve our emails or general communications with Parracombe Trust Members.
Thank you,
Parracombe Community Trust