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!