OurShop

Downs Baptist Church runs a community greengrocer’s shop in Warren Road, Woodingdean. The idea that the shop could be run by Downs Baptist Church was first suggested in 1997, when the existing shop was facing closure.

Providing fruit and veg to the local community is only part of the reason we took the shop on. We really wanted to reach out to the community and provide people with somewhere they can visit and talk to caring people who will listen. It can sometimes be a bit daunting to go to a church where you don’t know anyone so by coming to the shop first, people can get to know us a little better before they even get to church. People are always given a warm welcome, both at the shop and on Sunday mornings.

The shop is run by volunteers from Downs Baptist Church, and any profit goes towards charities supporting relief and missionary work throughout the world. The shop was refurbished, the frontage, fittings and cold store renewed, and generally brought up to a good standard at the expense of the church,

overseen by Martyn, the former Shop Deacon and Tony, the former Buildings Deacon. Martyn has now handed over the role of Director to Phil who is looking for ways to develop this community service with the aid of the volunteer work force. Sue Foster is employed on a part time basis to manage the shop for the next year to December 2011.

The shop provides a free local delivery service using the shop van. At present this is available on a Friday but we hope to extend this service in the near future.

The shop supplies a range of Fair Trade goods and Health Food options, as well as bird seed, hay and other animal related products.

Since the shop has been open, it has raised over £65,000. The funds have helped support local youth activities and projects, as well as other projects in the UK, particularly locally based charities who deal with social needs. There are two long-term overseas projects:

Dundori in Kenya, which we support with medical facilities and medicines, and the Brasov area of Romania for social needs and the purchase of land for the building of a church (see the “Mission” page for more details). We’ve also given to emergency relief funds through recognised agencies in times of earthquake, flood and famine.

Thank you for your support

Please support us in our outreach activities in Woodingdean. With your help we can do so much more to help people who are less advantaged than us. By buying some of your groceries at the Woodingdean grocery store each week, you are helping people all over the world. For deliveries, or to contact during opening hours telephone:: 01273 300441

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the shop in its mission, and for continuing to make the work we do possible. Thank you!