A VILLAGE aiming to raise £150,000 to save a café by selling community shares hit nearly three quarters of its goal after just one weekend and is planning a concert on Friday (March 22) to raise more money.

Newnham-on-Severn Community Benefit Society (NoSCBS) needs to raise a total of £500,000 to buy The George Café and convert it to a multi-use community hub.

It launched a scheme to raise £150,000 of this through the share scheme, raising £110,000 at the beginning of the month in just three days.

Siobhan Smith, chair of NoSCBS, said: “The campaign was launched in response to the closure of The George Café in the centre of the village.

“Previously run and owned by the Camphill Village Trust, the closure has meant a loss of a vital facility for many local people.

“NoSCBS, formerly known as ReNewnham, successfully campaigned for the George Café to be placed on the district council’s register of Assets of Community Value, before exploring the opportunity for the property to be purchased by the community.

“We are so close to achieving our target in the aim of taking on the George Café as a valued community-owned and run asset.

“More than half of Newnham’s population are over 45 and of that number, 31.6 per cent are over 60.  

“Village facilities are a lifeline to people who live in isolated locations. A lack of youth services in the area means it’s also important that we have a space for young people to meet and enjoy different pastimes, but this will be an asset for all ages.

“In support, a fundraising gig by well-known Forest of Dean band, the Sad Dads, will take place on Friday.

“We hope that supporters of our cause will come along to raise some extra funds. Also, we ask that people, if they haven’t yet done so, consider our community share offer, which is only open for a few weeks.

“We want to do all we can to achieve this big task at hand for the benefit of our village.”

The Sad Dads’ performance will start at 7.30pm at The Club in Newnham-on-Severn. Tickets are available from Newnham Post Office or The Railway Inn.