This month's news from ES&M

Committee News

The Ermington Store and More (ES&M) committee met for their usual monthly meeting recently. Items on the agenda this time included a much anticipated report on the outcome of a recent bid to the Parish Council for £5000 to enable the kitchen to be upgraded. This is much needed. For example, the equipment currently in use has been in place since 2020 when the ES&M first opened. The cafe including its takeaway service is becoming busier and we hope to provide a wider range of food in the future. The recent initiative to provide a cooked weekend breakfast was very popular and this may be offered on a regular basis. It is therefore essential that the kitchen facilities are up-to-scratch to efficiently meet present and future demands. We are happy to report that the bid was successful and are most grateful to the Parish Council for its support. We are now in the process of identifying our needs and sources of supply, with the kind assistance of Andrew Savery using his many years of experience in the catering and restaurant business. This will help us ensure that we spend the money wisely and obtain value for money.

Also discussed were some of the governance and compliance issues which ensure our ongoing fitness to conduct our business safely and within the law. These include insurance, booking procedures for the Hub, and construction of a Scheme of Delegated Authority document which clearly details which committee member is responsible for the various aspects of running ES&M, from preparing and updating the business plan, through governance, safeguarding and risk management to shop, café and Hub operations. It’s dry and tedious work, but vital if we are to remain the safe and welcoming space that so many people enjoy visiting.

The shop and café enjoyed a brisk and busy Christmas period and whilst January has been quieter, takings were in line with seasonal changes expected. The Hub team have worked hard to promote it as a venue for a wide variety of events and now has regular weekly and monthly bookings as well as one-off functions such as a christening, birthday parties and special interest groups and club meetings and events. We still have space for regular bookings on Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning, Thursday all day, Friday afternoons, as well as some evenings and weekends so please do consider us as a venue for any event or activity you may be planning. You can get in touch through our website or by calling 01548 83 11 11.

Recent fundraising events have enabled us to upgrade our advertising profile around the village. New banners are up at the entry points to the village on Town Hill and the Ivybridge road. A further banner will be placed at the top of Bunkers Hill. A freestanding A-board with Hub booking information & “what’s on” outside the shop is to be designed and constructed. A new sign for the building is ready and will be placed shortly.

We look forward to seeing you soon at ES&M, where you can be sure of a warm welcome whether to the shop, café or Hub.  

---

New craft group off to a great start

We’re delighted to introduce a new addition to our community activities here at Ermington Store & More — our Social Craft Group, which meets on the first Saturday of each month in the hub.

The idea behind the group is simple: bring along whatever creative project you’re working on and spend some relaxed time crafting in the company of others. Whether you knit, crochet, sew, draw, paint, scrapbook, mend clothes, or enjoy any other kind of creative hobby, you’re very welcome to join us.

This isn’t a class or a formal workshop — it’s a friendly, social gathering for people who enjoy making things and would like to spend a few hours with other like-minded crafters. Sometimes crafting can be a solitary hobby, so it’s lovely to have a space where people can chat, share ideas, swap tips, and enjoy each other’s company while they work on their own projects.

The group is open to everyone and we’re keen for it to be a welcoming and inclusive space. You don’t have to be an expert, and you don’t have to be working on anything particularly complicated — just bring along whatever you enjoy doing.

At the moment, the Social Craft club runs on a donations basis, helping to cover the cost of running the space while keeping it accessible to anyone who would like to come along.

This is exactly the kind of thing our community space was created for. When we opened the space, the hope was that it would be used by the village to form groups, meet new people, and enjoy the social benefits of spending time together. Seeing new groups like this take shape is wonderful, and we hope it becomes a regular fixture in the village calendar.

If you enjoy crafting and fancy a relaxed morning with friendly faces, why not come along to the next session? Bring your project, grab a coffee from the café, and settle in for a few hours of creativity and conversation.

We’d love to see you there!

---

As always, thank you for continuing to support Ermington Store & More. It’s wonderful to see the community space being used just as it was intended, with new groups like the Craft Club, the dance school and the Local History group bringing people together to share skills, creativity and good company.

Your support truly helps these ideas grow, and we’re excited about what the coming months will bring. Keep following us on our website and our social media platforms for the latest news and events, and check out our fantastic new noticeboard as well!

We can't wait to welcome you!