Ilminster Share and Repair funding boost news

Ilminster Share and Repair Receives Grant Funding Boost from Somerset Community Foundation’s Gooch Charitable Fund

The Ilminster Share and Repair Project is delighted to announce that it has received a generous grant of just over £11,000 from Somerset Community Foundation’s Gooch Charitable Fund. This vital funding will help this community enterprise take a significant step forward in its mission to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Since launching in February 2022, the project has completed over 1,700 repairs for more than 670 customers—diverting countless items from landfill and supporting the circular economy in a practical, people-focused way.  While the service is in high demand, its reliance on voluntary contributions makes long-term sustainability a challenge. The Gooch Charitable Fund grant will allow Ilminster Share and Repair to address these challenges head-on.

The funding will support a much-needed shop refit, enabling better use of existing space and creating a more functional environment for the volunteer team.  It will also assist with taking on additional floorspace allowing the project to grow its complementary income streams, namely its ‘Share’ function, sales and soap refills.

This expansion will create room for a wider range of loanable items in the Library of Things, offering local people more opportunities to borrow instead of buy—reducing waste and saving money. Additionally, the sale of UK-made, environmentally friendly liquid soap refills will be expanded, helping to cut single-use plastics in the community.

Ilminster Share and Repair is deeply rooted in collaboration. The project works closely with a number of local and international charities to extend its impact. A collection box on site supports Donate-IT, who refurbish unwanted technology and pass it on to people in need. Volunteers regularly identify tools and sewing machines for redistribution through Tools with a Mission. Items in good working order that cannot be sold are donated to local families via the Ilminster Churches Together Food Bank. The project also connects with service users at Sweet Surprise, who strip down irreparable items into recyclable components.

Looking ahead, Ilminster Share and Repair is exploring new ways to expand community access by acting as a broker for share arrangements between individuals—broadening the range of items available for loan at affordable rates.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Somerset Community Foundation and the Gooch Charitable Fund for supporting our next chapter,” said Sarah Hunt, Director of Green Ilminster and one of the original founders of Ilminster Share and Repair. “This grant enables us to improve our facilities, extend our reach, and continue to deliver services that make a real difference to people’s lives and to the planet.”

Sean Boland, Programmes Manager at Somerset Community Foundation, said “We are delighted to be supporting this valuable local enterprise with funds recently transferred to us from the former Gooch Charitable Trust. Ilminster Share and Repair is a great example of a community working together to benefit local people, whilst also reducing the impact on the planet and contributing to a more sustainable environment and economy.”

For more information about Ilminster Share and Repair or to get involved, please visit www.ilminster-share-and-repair.org.uk