Help Our Town 'The Hot Shop' C.I.C. Community Interest Company
- 28 July 2017 01:07331840Hopefully it is OK to post on here.
Social Media is a wonderful thing! People sharing ideas, making friends, broadcasting information and moaning about everything including Dover. This set me thinking about how I can do something for the town and that is how the idea for The H.O.T. Shop (Help Our Town) was born. I have been able to achieve this by receiving a grant from Dover Big Local to help with the Business start up. I will be working with Dover Big Local now and in the future.
It will work by people donating items to the shop, such as clothes, bric-a-brac etc. Profit after overheads will go to local projects, organisations or individuals in the Dover District. The local community will be given the opportunity to decide where the money goes by voting on Social Media or in the Shop.
The USP (Unique Selling Point) is money raised will always be staying in our Local Community. We are also looking at having a meeting point for clubs or groups, such as Book worms, Knitters, Crafters etc.
We are now accepting Donations. If you have any, then please email us at helpourtown@yahoo.com or contact us through our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HotShopDover/ where we can arrange collection or where donations can be dropped off.
The Shop address is Help Our Town, 13 London Road, Dover CT170ST (Next to Turners Model Shop)
Thanks for reading :-) - 28 July 2017 08:43331842All items donated to Age Concern stay within our community.Jan Higgins and Guest 1831 like this
- Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,140
28 July 2017 10:14331843Excellent idea Jason. This is the way things [U]should[/U] be done. Rather than people saying the Council or the Government 'should do something about etc', the community being empowered (dread phrase) to do something for the community. I'm sure Samuel Smiles would approve!
On the subject of local charities perhaps I could put out a call for membership of the Goodwin Sands Potholing Club (of which I'm on t'committee)?
The main idea is to raise funds to further the development of outdoor education among young people and particularly those who find themselves disadvantaged in today’s society. It is the belief of the Executive Committee of The Goodwin Sands Potholing Club that by encouraging young people to take part in activities such as, sailing, canoeing, rock climbing, mountaineering, expedition and camping, that this can be a useful process in their development as they grow into participating members of society. This is really all the club seeks to do. Please join us. Details here:-
http://www.goodwinsandspotholingclub.co.uk/Guest 2176 likes this"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - 28 July 2017 11:49331844Could I also put a plea in for the Age Concern - Riverside Centre.
They are desperate for a Mini-Bus. This is needed to collect the elderly, that is the over 50's.
Giving a much needed life-line from loneliness and isolation and meet their friends and have a decent meal on a daily basis.
Also, for outings etc. We will all reach this need one day.
Perhaps some input on way to help acquire this essential vehicle.
Thank you.howard mcsweeney1 and Jan Higgins like this - Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,087
28 July 2017 12:19331845Captain Haddock wrote:I'm sure Samuel Smiles would approve!
In fact, goodly Sam's attitude to charity was rather more complicated, as evidenced by his discussion of it in Chapter 14 of Thrift, in which, among many nuggets of Victorian fatherly advice, you'll find the following statement:
'Charity, like man, is sometimes blind, and frequently misguided.''Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,140
28 July 2017 12:48331847Weird Granny Slater wrote:
'Charity, like man, is sometimes blind, and frequently misguided.'
Absolutely. Which is why the only thing I would send to an animal charity is a captive-bolt pistol.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - 28 July 2017 13:52331850Sue Nicholas wrote:All items donated to Age Concern stay within our community.
That's wonderful that it does, but that covers one Charity, where we will be able to cover numerous charities, organisations, individual and group projects all local to Dover. And the local community can decide on a vote where the money goes. No Charity shop does that. People have charities that are close to their heart and that is understandable. I just want to give the community in Dover a choice. Also some charities require help but are not funded through shops, local projects struggle to get off the ground due to lack of help / funding. People have ideas and hopefully we can help some way or another either by goods purchased or monetary help. - 28 July 2017 14:04331851Captain Haddock wrote:Excellent idea Jason. This is the way things [U]should[/U] be done. Rather than people saying the Council or the Government 'should do something about etc', the community being empowered (dread phrase) to do something for the community. I'm sure Samuel Smiles would approve!
On the subject of local charities perhaps I could put out a call for membership of the Goodwin Sands Potholing Club (of which I'm on t'committee)?
The main idea is to raise funds to further the development of outdoor education among young people and particularly those who find themselves disadvantaged in today’s society. It is the belief of the Executive Committee of The Goodwin Sands Potholing Club that by encouraging young people to take part in activities such as, sailing, canoeing, rock climbing, mountaineering, expedition and camping, that this can be a useful process in their development as they grow into participating members of society. This is really all the club seeks to do. Please join us. Details here:-
http://www.goodwinsandspotholingclub.co.uk/
I have noted down the website and will contact you once we are up and going. - 28 July 2017 14:11331852christine.a wrote:Could I also put a plea in for the Age Concern - Riverside Centre.
They are desperate for a Mini-Bus. This is needed to collect the elderly, that is the over 50's.
Giving a much needed life-line from loneliness and isolation and meet their friends and have a decent meal on a daily basis.
Also, for outings etc. We will all reach this need one day.
Perhaps some input on way to help acquire this essential vehicle.
Thank you.
As stated above the goods stay in the local community I guess once the sale of the goods happens that the money from that stays in the local community? (Have just seen picture on Age UK website Dover shop all profits go to riverside centre) All profits after what has been paid out? If so then I am sure the Age UK (Dover shop) must be able to help in the funding for a vehicle. - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
28 July 2017 14:33331853Jason Gilbert wrote:Profit after overheads will go to local projects, organisations or individuals in the Dover District.
One thing you have not mentioned are your wages, by the time rent, council tax, power and insurance have been taken into account I doubt there will be much left over for much else.
I do however wish you all the best of luck with the plans.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,140
28 July 2017 14:38331854Jason, Have just e-mailed you at helpourtown@yahoo.com.
Guest 2176 likes this"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
28 July 2017 14:39331855Jason Gilbert wrote:As stated above the goods stay in the local community I guess once the sale of the goods happens that the money from that stays in the local community? (Have just seen picture on Age UK website Dover shop all profits go to riverside centre) All profits after what has been paid out? If so then I am sure the Age UK (Dover shop) must be able to help in the funding for a vehicle.
When I was at the Age Concern shop about five years ago we had the same outgoings as mentioned in my previous post but not one single wage bill as everyone from manager to the rest of us were volunteers. All profits did go straight to Riverside.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 28 July 2017 14:43331857Jan Higgins wrote:One thing you have not mentioned are your wages, by the time rent, council tax, power and insurance have been taken into account I doubt there will be much left over for much else.
I do however wish you all the best of luck with the plans.
My wages are very minimal and will not even be 3 figured on a weekly basis (Not like the chief executive for Age Uk £100000+ for a year) but I have mitigation with my partner's earnings and private pension. I have managed to get an excellent deal with the shop rent. My spreadsheets for the first 2 years appear to be fine and were looked at by 8 local business people in the Dover district who work with DBL. Whatever amount is available at the end is better than nothing at all :-)
Thank you for wishing me luck, I am sure I will need some along the way. It also depends on how much the Dover community wish to help with the business through donations and the purchasing of goods.Judith Roberts likes this - 28 July 2017 14:51331858Jan Higgins wrote:When I was at the Age Concern shop about five years ago we had the same outgoings as mentioned in my previous post but not one single wage bill as everyone from manager to the rest of us were volunteers. All profits did go straight to Riverside.
So no money left the Dover store after actual shop running costs such as electric / gas/ water / waste etc etc? That would truly amaze me if that is correct. As I would like to see where the Chief Executive and 5 other Executives all had 6 figure Salaries in 2015/16 came from. - 28 July 2017 15:31331861Jason our local manager of Age concern does.not get that Sort of wage you are looking at nationally.The Age concern shop does have overheads light,rates heating etc.I was Chairman of Age Concern for many years and our grants from K C C got smaller and Smaller Our Riverside Centre has to be kept in a good condition.Just trying to point out if people support your shop it's less for Age Concern.Big Local gets grants There are several funds given put in the town for different things.
- 28 July 2017 15:33331862I'm sure Ken Tranter will give you more info but I know it was hard work funding the Centre and all the outreach services provided.Jan Higgins likes this
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
28 July 2017 15:42331863Jason Gilbert wrote:So no money left the Dover store after actual shop running costs such as electric / gas/ water / waste etc etc? That would truly amaze me if that is correct. As I would like to see where the Chief Executive and 5 other Executives all had 6 figure Salaries in 2015/16 came from.
As I stated All our profits went to Riverside to help with their running costs.
I am not sure why you are getting so aggressive it is certainly not the way to get people to support your new venture.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 28 July 2017 15:43331864Sue Nicholas wrote:Jason our local manager of Age concern does.not get that Sort of wage you are looking at nationally.The Age concern shop does have overheads light,rates heating etc.I was Chairman of Age Concern for many years and our grants from K C C got smaller and Smaller Our Riverside Centre has to be kept in a good condition.Just trying to point out if people support your shop it's less for Age Concern.Big Local gets grants There are several funds given put in the town for different things.
I am not after an argument with you Sue. But by the way you are stating your case you think everyone should support Age Uk and nothing else. You will always have people that support your shop and there will be people that support what I am trying to do for the community. If people support a lot of other good causes in the town then it is less for Age Concern, it is just one of those things. You can be passionate about what you choose to support as much as I can be passionate about supporting a whole area of good causes I hope to help. There is hopefully enough generosity from the good people of Dover to help a wide variety of causes. - 28 July 2017 15:44331865Jan Higgins wrote:As I stated All our profits went to Riverside to help with their running costs.
I am not sure why you are getting so aggressive it is certainly not the way to get people to support your new venture.
I am not getting aggressive at all Jan, I am just stating a fact, nothing else. - Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
28 July 2017 19:02331876Jason - I wish you all the success you richly deserve with this venture, it was a pleasure to meet you and to hear you talk so passionately on a number of occasions about your idea. DBL are pleased to have been able to help you and as stated at the recent exec meeting we will continue to offer you support.Guest 2176 likes this"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi