| Bank Charity Bank |
| Client Holne Community Shop & Tea Room |
| Location Holne, United Kingdom |
Holne Community Shop & Tea Room is owned by the community, for the community and provides not only services but a valuable place for social interaction. The social enterprise received a loan from Charity Bank to assist with the purchase of its premises. Secretary Gilly Simpson explains the role Charity Bank played:
“In 2014, the landlord was moving away from the area and wanted to sell the premises. We managed to raise the bulk of the money from selling community shares but required some extra funding. Charity Bank offered us a loan and were brilliant. Some challenges and unexpected difficulties came up along the way, but Charity Bank remained supportive and flexible throughout.
“To everyone who saves with Charity Bank and made our community project possible, I’d say thank you and please continue to save with them because your money really is doing good. We would never have been able to make this a reality without the support of Charity Bank and its savers. In a rural area like ours, it’s so important to have a place like this for people to come and socialise. The shop and tea room are at the heart of our community now.”