Background
We are constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) which is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
Although we have three nominal £1 shareholders they cannot take dividends, any distribution of profits (or assets) has to be for the benefit of the community.
In the last few years we have been sufficiently financially secure and profitable that we have been able to distribute monies to local Charities and causes.
2021
After a very successful year in 2020 with enhanced sales during the restrictions and and lockdowns of the Covid pandemic we were able in August 2021 to give away a total of £7,378 divided between three local good causes:
- The overhaul of the Bells at St Mary's Church
- Homestart (Waverley) supporting local families
- Support for Hollowdene childrens' playground
For all the details see this News Item
2018
This year we asked local charities and organisations to make a "pitch" for a contribution from the shop at our AGM. We then asked people to vote for their preferred recipients and based on these votes we made the following distribution:
| Bell Ropes | £400 | Full award of amount sought |
| Marindin Hall | £1,000 | Contribution to estimated £3,500 cost of new stage facility |
| Community Speed Watch | £1,000 | Contribution to the cost of “white gates” |
| Phyllis Tuckwell Hospicecare |
£1,000 | Cost of a drug delivery machine |
| Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre |
£700 | Contribution towards cost of setting up a local dyslexia support group (See also page 13) |
| More House School | £600 | Cost of 2 Food mixers for use in cookery lessons |
| Rural Life Centre | £550 | Contribution to cost of materials for new store, estimated at £1,100 |
| Kingsley Centre | £550 | Contribution to £2,500 cost of new photocopier |
All recipients expressed great gratitude for the monies given and the shop has even taken delivery of a batch of delicious flapjacks baked by pupils at More House with the aid of their new food mixers!
2017
This year we decided to give the whole of the available surplus of £5,000 to a single cause; namely the appeal by Dockenfield Parish Council for funds to enable the purchase of an area of field as Public Open Space adjacent to the place where "D-Day" is held annually. Our contribution made it possible for DPC to proceed with this purchase.
2016
We identified four potential recipients for our Big Give Back in 2016 and allocated shares of the available funds (total £3,378) based on customers putting tokens in jars to cast their votes!
The distribution was....
Frensham Royal British Legion Club £1,024
St Mary’s School £962
St Mary’s church tower repair fund £738
Frensham Pond Sailability £654
