Contact Details
For more information contact:
Kathleen Hurst
Wissit Furlong – for committee information
The shop also has it’s own Facebook page to keep customers up to date. Search for ; Village Shop Aveton Gifford
As a village shop and Post Office we aim to supply all the needs of the community on a day-to-day basis.
Aveton Gifford Village Shop Association was formed when the last village shop with its Post Office closed in 2003. Fundraising for a new community shop began and villagers bought shares priced at £5 each. The new premises, a purpose-built timber-framed building that opened for business on the 1st August 2009, is a result of the hard work of committee members at the time, the shop staff, and the community’s support for the scheme,
NB – After a couple of attempted break-ins to the shop and the stock room behind, and an attempted fraudulent money scam, the interior and outside of the shop are both protected by CCTV.
Aveton Gifford is a thriving community-owned shop with a Post Office counter. Since the tragic death of Peta in November 2019, the owners of the Holywell Stores (St Ann’s Chapel), Jas and Jaswinder Kooner, with Jas’ brother Sukhjinder Sran, took over the running of both the shop and our vital Post Office for a year, but it has now been transferred to Kathleen Toon Poynton-Hurst who has been with them since then.
Support the shop with a SeaMoor Lottery ticket!
There is a really good way to support the shop with a weekly lottery ticket (£1 only) which could win some money to go towards all the costs of essential maintenance. Kathleen runs the grocery and post office inside the building, but her business doesn’t have any responsibility for the building or buying new equipment, or insuring the building – that’s all down to the ability of our shop committee to find the funds to do that.
You could really help by buying lottery tickets from the SeaMoor Lotto – that’s a weekly lottery that raises money for good causes in the South Hams and West Devon. It really does work – local good causes have helped with this funding since the lottery started in 2018. All you need to do is to nominate our village shop for your winnings, and it’s a very easy way to help our community shop.
You can find out more here on the AGVS SeaMoor Lotto page https://www.seamoorlotto.co.uk/support/aveton-gifford-village-shop-association
You can find out more about how the Lotto works with these SeaMoor Lotto FAQs https://www.seamoorlotto.co.uk/faq
Note: No lunch time closing for any of the above
Polite request – for the consideration of staff who will need to close and cash up, it would be appreciated if customers came in 10 minutes before closing.
Post Office counter
PLEASE COME EARLY WITH YOUR PARCELS FOR POSTING; it isn’t possible to accept parcels after the last post office collection has gone, because there is no available overnight storage space for them until the collection the next day. Post Office guidelines do say that the times for accepting parcels may vary according to the individual branches; AG Post Office cannot accept parcels after 3.00 pm, so if you’ve got something big or lots to be posted, please bring them in early to avoid disappointment!
AGVSA AGM – Thursday 15 June at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.
It’s nearly time for the Village Shop Association’s Annual General Meeting and there’s an important item on the agenda that needs the support of parishioners. The Management Committee of the Association (AGVSA) is proposing to update the legal structure of the organisation.
The AGVSA is responsible for maintaining the fabric of the building, maintaining a relationship with the tenant shopkeeper, and engaging with its shareholders – which includes roughly 480 people.
What is the Management Committee proposing to change?
The Management Committee is proposing to change AGVSA’s legal structure from an Industrial Provident Society (IPS) to a more modern Community Benefit Society (CBS).
While an IPS remains a legal structure, it was replaced by the CBS format in 2014.
Such a change might not impact the day-to-day experience of shop customers, but it could make a huge difference to its long-term resilience.
Why are the proposed changes important?
Changing to a CBS would have several benefits, with one of the most important being an ability to access certain grants and fundraising opportunities that an IPS is unable to.
Another huge advantage of becoming a CBS would be the simultaneous update of AGVSA’s Model Rules, which dictate how the organisation should be run, and how it should nurture its relationships with the shop tenant and its shareholders.
It would also bring us into line with newer regulations, such as the data protection-related GDPR.
The AGVSA has recently rejoined The Plunkett Foundation, an organisation that specialises in assisting communities like ours through such changes. This means we will be fully supported through the entire process should shareholders vote in favour.
What do we need from you?
These changes must be put before shareholders at a General Meeting, and this meeting must have what is known as a quorum – a minimum percentage of shareholders present to make a decision valid.
This means the Management Committee would like as many people as possible to attend the AGM, which is on Thursday 15 June at 7:30pm in the Village Hall.
Being present at the AGM allows you to ask any questions of the Committee about the proposed changes, and to put your vote forward in person on this important matter.
Agenda
The full agenda will include …
- Minutes of the last AGM held 16 June 2022
- Reports from the Chair and the Treasurer – a copy of the Association’s 2022 accounts with notes is provided herewith with a paper copy on the AGVSA notice board in the Shop (by door)
- Motion to proceed towards becoming a CBS
- Election of AGVSA Management Committee members
- Any Other Business.
And if you can’t be there…
Even if you are not able to attend the meeting, you can request a proxy voting form, which allows you to submit your vote without being present.
Please email agvsashareholders@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Proxy Voting Form Request’. These forms must be returned to AGVSA at the above email address (signed and scanned) or returned to the Aveton Gifford Vilage Shop no later than 3pm on Wednesday 14 June 2023.
Alternatively, you can email agvsashareholders@gmail.com to nominate someone you know is attending as your proxy. Please email the above address with the subject line ‘Proxy Vote Nomination’, including the name of the individual you wish to vote on your behalf at the meeting.
The Management Committee is comprised of volunteers who put a lot of effort into the administrative aspects of maintaining the Shop, so please come along and show your support. And if you would like to join the Management Committee to help oversee the future of the Shop, please either attend the AGM, or contact us on the abovementioned email address.
Minutes of the last AGM held 16 June 2022
Financial Statements to be presented at the 2023 AGVSA AGM
The Post Office
Open every day of the week during shop hours, including weekends. Customers are able to withdraw cash, purchase Euros, pay in money or cheques, pay certain utility bills (if they are bar coded), send parcels every day of the week, and all the usual facilities of a local post office. Phone card top-ups, gift cards and electricity key top-ups can also be purchased here.
What do we sell?
The shop sells locally produced products where possible and continually adds more. As well as the basics – milk, bread, eggs, meat and vegetables – we have a wide selection of other local food and treats as well. The shop also supplies household goods, stationery, newspapers and much more.
Drinks and snacks
You can buy coffee or hot chocolate to take away or sit and enjoy here; a table and chairs is in the shop, or sit outside at the picnic table on sunny days! You can also get pasties and sausage rolls, a or delicious sandwiches to take away. A selection of ice creams is on sale in the summer.
On a Saturday fresh pastries are available – pain au chocolat, croissants – come early to avoid disappointment! Or you can pre order by Friday and all we ask is to pay for the pastries upfront on pre orders.
Newspapers and magazines
We supply local and national newspapers and a selection of magazines. If you want a particular magazine ask if we can order it for you.
Maps and books
We have walking maps, tide timetables, and a selection of books by local authors on sale
Book & film swap
A community Book Swap is also available here. A large number of good books have been donated to the bookcase by the door. We also have a Film Swap shelf – dvd’s of films suitable for all ages have been donated – come in and browse for something to while away an evening, or bring in films you’ve seen but others would enjoy. £1 will purchase a film, and the money goes to the shop maintenance fund.
We accept all major debit and credit cards.
To establish your needs, wants and desires it is important to know what you want… and equally what you don’t want! If there is something that you think we should provide, or you would like something put by please ring us on 01548 550 996
Talking Shop
As a small local shop we stock as many of the basics as we can, and try to source locally. Our seasonal vegetables and fruit come from our supplier Tamar Fresh who source their stock from local suppliers including Salcombe, Plymouth and other farms.
Our direct local suppliers include
Challon’s Combe. Their cows produce wonderful Organic Milk, Very Thick Double Cream and Yogurt. The milk is now available in returnable glass bottles.
Clotted cream comes from Langage Farm
Cuckoo Farm supplies our Eggs
We get our range of cheeses, and ham from Hawkridge Dairy
Halletts The Bakers bake a wide variety of delicious Breads.
We stock a reasonable range of vegetarian and vegan fare, including alternative milks, hummus, snacks, vegetarian pasties, and there is a selection of different vegan-friendly wines on sale here too.
Included in our selection of vegetarian or vegan foods, we are now stocking Clive’s Pies- handmade pies and tarts all made locally in Buckfastleigh. There are some mouthwatering flavours such as Homity Pie, Creamy Mushroom, Chestnut and Bean Cassoulet, Greek Lentil and Olive, Mexican Chilli, Tomato and Olive Provencale plus other flavours. The pies and tarts are delivered on Tuesdays and will be chilled as well as frozen. Come down and try them!
.Blakes bakery supplies a large range of Cakes, and pasties, (both meat and vegetable) and sausage rolls.
Wine! We offer a selection of different wines
We have Salcombe Brewery beer and ale including Shingle Bay and Prospect.
You can also buy Devon Rum here too.
The Chilli Farm also supplies us with their Chilli Jam, Chilli Jelly and now Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce!
Chillaton Farm supplies us with as much honey as they can.
A range of flavours of Burts Crisps are on sale here too
During the summer we have a good selection of ice creams and lollies – something to enjoy on a hot day, so call in and get some for the family!
We stock a wide range of Greetings Cards created by our very talented local artists – Sarah Harcus, Allan Green, Maggie Sharpe, John Ashton, Les Howard, Rococo Cards, Mackenzie Ringrose.
Jenny Reynolds creates a unique range of Necklaces, Bracelets and Earrings
If you would like us to order products which are outside our usual range, please speak to Kathleen. We would usually ask for prepayment but are very happy to try to source special requests.
