THE SAVE The George campaign group hoping to purchase the former cafe in Newnham have raised £130,000, enough to make a formal offer on the property.

This target has been achieved through community shares, donations and fund-raising events to help ‘Save The George’ in Newnham, and a formal offer has been made by the Newnham-on-Severn Community Benefit Society to purchase the building. 

The £130,000 has been raised in just six weeks, starting with the launch of the Community Share Offer in early March, which allows people to buy shares in units of £20. 

Donations and fund-raising events, such as a gig by local band, The Sad Dads, and a quiz night, have promoted the project and raised additional funds.

The campaign group will use the share money with loans and grants to buy the property and negotiations are currently underway with the owners, Camphill Village Trust. 

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER