Community Heroes

Community Heroes: Spotlight on Local Non-Profits Making a Difference

by with No Comment Grapevine

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the unsung heroes of the Cotswolds! These local non-profits are out there every day, making our community brighter than a summer’s day in Bibury.

The Green Guardians:
Meet the folks who are keeping our Cotswolds as pristine as a postcard. They’re out there battling litter like knights fighting dragons, and planting more trees than squirrels on caffeine.

The Four-Legged Friends Society:
This amazing groomers and vats that ensure that every furry, feathered, or scaly friend finds a loving home. They’re like a dating agency for pets and people, creating more happy endings than a Richard Curtis film.

The Time-Travelling Educators:
History buffs unite! Our museum and the ladies and gents out there bringing the past to life, turning Cirencester into a living, breathing time machine. They make learning about Roman Britain more exciting than a gladiator match (and significantly less deadly).

These community heroes prove that you don’t need a cape to be super – just a big heart and a love for the Cotswolds. So next time you see them in action, give them a high-five (or better yet, volunteer!). After all, it takes a village to raise a community, and in the Cotswolds, we’ve got the best village around!

Remember, supporting these local heroes is easier than falling off a dry stone wall. So get out there and show some love to the people making the Cotswolds an even more wonderful place to live!

From Sheep to Tech

From Sheep to Tech: The Quirky Evolution of Cot

by with No Comment Grapevine

Hold onto your fleece, folks! We’re about to take a wild ride through the Cotswolds’ industrial evolution. From woolly wonders to silicon marvels, our region has seen more transformations than a chameleon at a disco.

The Woolly Days:
Once upon a time, the Cotswolds were all about the sheep. Our hills were alive with the sound of baa-ing, and our towns were built on the back of the wool trade. It was like a fluffy gold rush!

The Stone Age (Not That One):
Then came the Cotswold stone. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of our golden rock. Our quarrymen were busier than a one-armed paper hanger, and our buildings became the envy of the country4.

The Tech Takeover:
Fast forward to today, and you’ll find more startups in Cirencester than sheep (well, almost). We’ve gone from shearing wool to shearing through data, and our fields are now home to more solar panels than grazing animals.

So next time you’re sipping a flat white while coding on your laptop in a 17th-century Cotswold stone building, take a moment to appreciate the quirky journey that got us here. From sheep to tech, the Cotswolds keep evolving – but always with style!

Cirencester Hidden Gems

Cirencester’s Hidden Gems: A Local’s Guide to Supporting Small Businesses

by with No Comment Grapevine

Ahoy, treasure hunters! Put down that metal detector and grab your shopping bags instead. We’re about to embark on a quest to discover Cirencester’s hidden gems – those delightful small businesses that make our town sparkle brighter than a Roman mosaic.

The Bookworm’s Paradise:
Tucked away on Black Jack Street, you’ll find a bookshop that’s more magical than Hogwarts. With creaky floorboards and that heavenly old book smell, it’s a bibliophile’s dream come true1.

The Cheese Wizard’s Lair:
In the Market Place, there’s a cheese shop so good, it’ll make you forget about your lactose intolerance. Their cheddar is sharper than a Roman gladius, and their brie is smoother than a politician’s promises2.

The Caffeine Alchemist:
Hidden in plain sight on Castle Street is a coffee shop that serves liquid gold. Their espresso could wake up a sleeping giant, and their latte art is so pretty, you’ll feel guilty drinking it.

Coffee #1: Situated in the old Post Office building at 12 Castle Street, this cafe offers a large open plan area with long tables, perfect for groups and families. It’s described as an ideal respite from exploring the quaint streets of Cirencester

Remember, every pound spent at these local gems is a vote for keeping Cirencester’s charm alive. So go forth and shop local – your taste buds (and conscience) will thank you!

a local business owner lost in a stylized digital jungle

Introducing the Cotswold Grapevine: Your Small Business Lifeline

by with No Comment Grapevine

Are you a local business owner feeling a bit lost in the digital jungle? Fear not, because the Cotswold Grapevine Small Business Network is here to rescue you from the tangled vines of online marketing!

We’re not just another stuffy business group – we’re your friendly neighbourhood tech-savvy superheroes, ready to help you conquer the digital world with a smile (and maybe a cheeky pint afterwards).

What’s on the menu?

  • Online marketing wizardry
  • Tech support that won’t make your head spin
  • AI tricks that’ll make you feel like Tony Stark
  • A business directory that’ll put you on the map
  • Lead generation that doesn’t involve chasing people down the high street

Join our merry band of local entrepreneurs and watch your business bloom faster than a Cotswold garden in spring. Remember, in the Grapevine, we don’t just network – we have fun while doing it!

The Cotswold Grapevine

The Cotswold Grapevine

by Grapevine

The Cotswold Grapevine: Weaving Our Community Together

Hello there, lovely Cotswold folks! Grab a cuppa and let me tell you about something exciting brewing in our neck of the woods. It’s called The Cotswold Grapevine, and it’s all about bringing our community closer together. Fancy that!

First things first, let me introduce ourselves. We’re Etchr Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit business based right here in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Now, don’t let the fancy title fool you – we’re just a bunch of local people with a big dream and even bigger hearts.

How It All Started

Picture this: I’m sitting there, thinking about how grateful I am for a local charity that helped me out when I was in a pickle. And then it hit me – why not create something that could give back to them and help others too? That’s how Etchr was born.

Now, I’d love to say I had it all figured out from the start, but let’s be honest – plans change faster than British weather! Luckily, I’ve got a cracking team around me (they’re proper stars, I tell you), and together we realised we could do so much more. We could help loads of charities and make a real difference in our community. Talk about a lightbulb moment!

What's The Cotswold Grapevine All About?

So, what exactly is The Cotswold Grapevine? Well, it’s like a digital village green where everyone’s welcome. Here’s what we’ve got cooking (and this is just for starters) – this is for the local community but also we’re promoting our community to bring in the tourists and visitors, after all, we don’t want to lose our town centres, so we need to lead the way along with our local groups, charities and other community interest companies like Heart-Safe, The Long Table and all the others:

A Free and Safe Marketplace: Fancy selling that exercise bike that’s become a clothes hanger? Or looking for a bargain? We’ve got you covered.

Local Business Showcase: We’re shining a spotlight on our local shops, restaurants, and services. They’re the backbone of our community, after all!

Events Galore: From theatre shows to pub quizzes, if it’s happening within a 25-mile radius of Cirencester, you’ll hear about it here.

Job Opportunities: Looking for work or need to hire? Our jobs board is the place to be.

Reviews and Local Knowledge: Because who knows the best spots better than us locals?

Then once we’re off the ground, think organising competitions, family events like scavenger hunts, local polls and , well, use your imagination because this is community led, your feedback is what directs the project. 

Coming Soon to a Smartphone Near You

We’re working on making The Cotswold Grapevine available as an app. It’ll work from your phone immediately, but we want to make it a 100% useable app. Imagine having all this local goodness right in your pocket! Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just visiting our beautiful corner of the world, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.

It's All About Community

Here’s the really important bit – we’re doing this for you, for us, for our community. As a Community Interest Company, our profits go back into making The Cotswold Grapevine even better and supporting local charities. In fact, we’re already working with some fantastic local charities, offering them our services for free.

And get this – we want you to have a say in where the money goes! After all, it’s your community too. We’ll be asking for your input on which projects and causes to support. How’s that for people power?

More Than Just a Website

We’re not stopping at The Cotswold Grapevine website. We’re out there on social media too, sharing local business news and community updates on our Facebook group, Cirencester Community Hub. And we’ve got plans to help folks with basic computing skills, internet safety, and smartphone use. Because in this digital age, no one should be left behind.

So there you have it, folks – The Cotswold Grapevine in a nutshell. It’s big, it’s exciting, and it’s all about bringing us together. Whether you’re a local business, a charity, or just someone who loves our beautiful Cotswolds, there’s a place for you here.

Stay tuned for more updates, and remember – the grapevine only works if we all get involved. So come on, let’s make some noise and show the world what our community can do!