‘A Herculean effort’ – Community Contribution Award for East Boldre store super fundraiser
AN East Boldre super fundraiser has won the national Community Contribution Award for her campaign to create a new community shop.
Rebecca Gabzdyl from East Boldre Community Stores was crowned at the 2024 Rural Community Business Awards, hosted by the charity Plunkett UK.
The winners were announced at an award ceremony at Coin Street Conference Centre in London.
Rebecca was nominated by the village in recognition of the time, energy and expertise she invested in setting up community shop Chapel Stores over a period of six years.
Fears that the village’s only shop would shut for good led Rebecca to head a working group focused on finding a new premises. Unfortunately the first two options at the village hall and the existing shop fell through.
When East Boldre’s former Baptist Chapel went up for sale, Rebecca rallied a team for a third attempt. She rolled up her sleeves to get planning permission and raise the £704,000 of funding needed. With the cash in place, she managed the contractor selection, subsequent build project and initial supplier and product selection.
Long-time resident Pete Jordan said: “This award is very well deserved. She made a Herculean effort to ensure that the Chapel Stores project was completed. The village owes Rebecca a huge deal of gratitude.”
Rebecca’s husband Jack said: “Her sheer drive, energy, enthusiasm and tenacity never wavered despite the challenges faced in raising funds and restoring a neglected 200-year-old chapel back into community use. A lot of midnight oil was burned.”
Rebecca said she was “pleased to have my efforts recognised” but added it was a team effort.
“Over 60 local people supported the project in different ways – as members of the management committee, at our big help outs, with communications and by offering the professional know how pro-bono.”
Awards host Plunkett UK is a national charity which supports rural communities to set up and run businesses in community ownership.
