With today’s Advent Calendar, we are opening a new window for a fabulous shop, Food for Thought! We featured them on last year’s Advent Calendar for their first birthday and on our first Advent Calendar on their opening day, and we’re really excited to show you around again this year…
Pop in for loads of last minute Christmas gifts under £20!
Food for Thought have food, cleaning, personal hygiene products and accessories for sale. Kerry, the shop’s owner, gave us a tour of her emporium, and we videoed it for you. Here is Kerry telling us all about the products available at Food for Thought, including lots of new ones:
Kerry has opened her ‘zero-waste emporium’ in Nene Court, Wellingborough, to reduce plastic pollution & celebrate locally made. Their motto is more joy with less waste!
At Food for Thought, you can buy loose and eco friendly goods, such as food stuffs, self-care and cleaning products. You simply fill, weigh and pay for what you need. So save your jars and bottles. Wash them out and refill at Food for Thought!
Eco gifts, cards, refill cleaning products and food.
They will be open between Christmas and New Year. There won’t be veg or bread as they’re suppliers are closed for the whole period but there will be eggs & all their usual refill goodness, plus lots of eco-friendly gifts, hampers, snacks, drinks & if you’re looking for more of an experience to gift, consider their workshops & gift vouchers!
For other opening ours see below.
So if you’re looking for great food and cleaning products with zero waste, find Food for Thought at 21 Nene Court, Wellingborough, NN8 1LD
This month we have featured lots of great community and eco-friendly services available in and around Wellingborough on our Advent Calendar. It has been a real treat being able to talk to so many amazing people, and it’s been a pleasure sharing their groups, charities and businesses with you. For those that may have missed some of our Advent Calendar windows, here are all of them:
All of the above and more are on Wellingborough Eco Map and on the Wellingborough Organisations website. Please do support them or use their services, and share our blog posts and videos to promote them. Our videos are also available on our YouTube channel. If you want to discover more ‘eco-friendly’ services available locally, last year’s Advent Calendar is also worth a look.
Just for fun, here is a Christmas treat for everyone:
Festive fun with the Raunds Ukulele Group, featuring two of our committee members, Judy and Freddie
We would like to thank you all for everything you have done for us and for our community this year.We wish everyone a very happy and healthy Christmas.
Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Teamwork Trust who are organising Disability Forums, as part of a wider project called Community Champions. Teamwork Trust is working with Support Northamptonshire on the project, which aims to accelerate the offering of helpful advice, guidance and vaccination information to the disabled community to ensure that they remain safe.
Community Champions provide practical help to enable IT access, access to food and other provisions as well as encouraging people to take part in events and activities that contribute positively to physical and mental wellbeing. Wellingborough Eco Group member, Karon, is one of the Disability Community Champions. Here she is talking about this and their next Disability Forum:
Karon said: “The Community Champions were set up during the pandemic to support disabled people in the community, a part of this project was to set up a disability forum, because there was no disability forum in North Northamptonshire. The Disability Forum has been set up to share information with disabled people and also the organisations that support them.
“From having the disability forum and our discussions, we decided it would be a good idea to have a booklet for people that have been newly disabled or long-term sick, to give information on resources and services that are available, the type of support people can get, the benefits that people can go for, and anything else related to disability. The next disability Forum is on the 20th January and we encourage you all to come along.”
More than 50 adults came along to their first forum, the online event in July was attended by a mix of service providers, council officers and people with disabilities who raised concerns about how life without restrictions will make them unsafe. They also said that that those with underlying health issues are still the most vulnerable in society and that their views are not being respected.
The next Disability Forum will be on January 20th, their fourth bi-monthly forum. The forums are there for the views of disabled people to be heard, do join in on the Disability Forum in January if you can, more details are available at www.teamworktrust.co.uk/events
About Teamwork Trust
Teamwork Trust is a Northamptonshire charity and social enterprise with over 35 years experience, which works with and supports autistic adults, people with learning disabilities and individuals with mental health needs.
Teamwork is a successful social enterprise that helps vulnerable adults to achieve their goals. They care and are passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to the same chances, choices and opportunities. They embrace and celebrate individual needs and abilities. Service users help to steer and plan everything they do.
Their three centres, based in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, are friendly, safe and supportive places in which service users make new friends, access education and employment experiences, and take part in on and off-site activities and classes. They have a packed programme of living and learning projects, and activities, as well as wellbeing and counselling programmes.
They run ‘factory floor’ facilities from their three centres providing a range of assembling, reworking, finishing, labelling, packing and fulfilment services, to offer reliable commercial outsourcing service offers a cost-effective and efficient option for businesses, while giving adults with mental health needs, learning and physical disabilities valuable vocational experience at the same time. The Wellingborough centre is based at:
Teamwork Trust 38A Oxford Street Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 4JG
Today, our Advent Calendar window opens for UGLY MUG who have just celebrated their first birthday! They are opposite Tresham College on Church Street, and they are eco-friendly. The proprietor, Jonathan Ekins, has created a coffee shop with that has nice surroundings, a pleasant ambiance and is quiet for meeting friends and family, on the way to work, shopping or just because you fancy a great coffee.
UGLY MUG is very keen to support community groups. If you are involved in a Wellingborough or district community group, they are pleased to offer use of their Coffee shop for promoting your group, you can have a table or use of their basement function area free of charge! Many local groups already meet the café, including a few from the U3A.
Taking advantage of this kind offer are our very own Wellie Wombles, who will be at UGLY MUG tomorrow with ‘Wellie Wombles’ and ‘Wellingborough Eco Group’ mugs and more. Why not pop in and see us between 10 and 2, for a coffee and a chat, plus find out about how to join us tidying up our town.
Wellingborough Eco Group also collects spent coffee grounds from UGLY MUG to use on our Community Allotment to fertilise our plot and to save them going to landfill. Do let them know if you want any. Here Jonathan tells you all about his coffee house and their eco-credentials:
The first thing that you experience as you enter UGLY MUG, is the spellbinding smell of coffee, swiftly followed by the feeling that you are in a European café. Even the price board looks continental. Seating is available on three levels and is designed with people from all walks of life in mind, be it work spaces, chill out seating or lunch with your loved ones.
They pride themselves that they only serve the finest locally roasted coffee, and that means no instant, no express and no pods. It’s not only coffee that has been sourced from a local supplier, they also have a local baker who bakes all of their bread and cakes. The coffee shop uses reusable plates and mugs, and offers bamboo reusable takeaway cups and recycled packaging too.
They have a wide selection of freshly prepared sandwiches available, including vegan and vegetarian options. Vegan coffee is served too, including a fantastic oat milk latte, soya and almond milks are also available, so whoever you are, they have you covered. Open Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 5:00, Saturday: 08:00 – 4:00 and Sunday: 10:00 – 3:00, they hope to serve you soon.
Today’s Advent Calendar Window opens for Morrisons Wellingborough store; who have made a huge difference this year, through the tireless work of their Community Champion Skye. She has supported and, perhaps more importantly, joined in with the work of lots of the groups and charities to make good things happen locally. Skye has been the most visible and supportive person from any business in our community this year, and for this we wanted to thank her and Morrisons with this feature.
Skye’s role is to support the local community and represent corporate living from Morrisons. During her time there she has helped at and supported Redeem Funds Food Bank, Helping Hands, Animals in Need, litter picks with the Wellie Wombles, Baby Basics, Teen Challenge, Thrapston Foodbank, Teamwork Trust, breakfast clubs from various schools and nurseries, and more. We visited Skye, who told us on video all about her work:
Morrisons Wellingborough store has been one of the biggest supporters of Redeem Funds this year, through regular donations to their foodbank and more. Their Community Champion, Skye, has also regularly supported Redeem Funds at various local events, at their foodbank and with making food parcels which are then distributed to families in Wellingborough District.
Morrisons have also supported Wellingborough Eco Group and Wellie Wombles too, with donations of canteen tables and chairs for our Community Allotment, and with four crates of drinks for Wellie Wombles at our Tuesday Tidy Ups. Skye has even joined in a few times litter picking and at the Community Allotment too!
Skye, Morrisons Wellingborough Community Champion, active in our community
Christmas is the supermarket’s busiest time of the year, but it hasn’t stopped them supporting the community. This Christmas Morrisons Wellingborough have a Toy Appeal for Northampton General Hospital where staff, customers or anyone can donate toys. These will go to children who are in hospital over the Christmas period.
Morrisons Wellingborough donated the mince pies for the Christmas Tree Festival at the High Street United Reformed Church last weekend. Skye has also been delivering mince pies on Mondays to care homes around Wellingborough, delivering hampers for families in need and has adopted a family this Christmas to give them their Christmas dinner and presents on Christmas Eve!
Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Made In Northamptonshire, a county wide networking group designed to bring together like-minded businesses and individuals from the food and drink sector. The ’support local’ philosophy is at the heart of Made In Northamptonshire, who believe that it is a positive and helpful way to support your local community.
In December 2020, Made In Northamptonshire opened their first shop at Rushden Lakes stocking a vast array of delicious local produce including tasty treats from award-winning Friars Farm, The Confectionist, Brooklyn Brownies, Vicky’s Kitchen, Daily Bread, Explore Chocolate, The Good Loaf, Warner’s Distillery, Nakasero Foods and many more; there really is something for everyone!
The Made In Northamptonshire Shop at Rushden Lakes is open 7 days a week: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm Saturdays and 11am-4pm Sundays! The shop is located in between Starbucks and Heavenly Desserts (see map below). They also have a satellite store at Jeyes of Earls Barton. The Made In Northamptonshire team look forward to you visiting them soon!
Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Wellingborough Town Council, because they have organised a Christmas Market tomorrow (Saturday 11th) from 8:30am until 3pm on the Market Square. We spoke to Emma, Projects Officer at Wellingborough Town Council, who said “There will be a variety of stalls selling gifts, decorations, food and more at Wellingborough Christmas Market, plus we have lots more exciting festive events in the Town Centre too.” Stalls at Wellingborough Christmas Market include:
Mystical Mosaics
A Touch of Wax
Artlenock Artistry
The Daylight Centre
Izzys bakes
Cashew the Cactus
Grumpy Brands
LDM Leisure
Lulu Belle Loves Paper
Scented Dreams
June Plum
The Food Barn
Sparky’s Snack Box
And many more! Shoppers at Wellingborough Christmas Market will also be visited by some of Santa’s real reindeer between 11am and 3pm, pop along and say hello? Plus whilst your in the Town Centre, so why not have some more festive fun at the other events:
Santa will be in his snowy grotto at the Swansgate Shopping Centre from 10am until 4pm, and what’s even better is that entry is completely free! You will be greeted by Santa’s cheeky elves before you can talk to Santa, have your photo taken as well as receiving a free gift for every child! Pre booking for the grotto is recommended but not essential. There will be two queues on the event days, shoppers in the pre-booked queue will be made a priority. Book your tickets here!
The United Reform Church on the High Street is hosting their first ever Christmas Tree Festival. There will be over 35 trees on show, decorated by schools, businesses and individuals from the town, look out for Wellingborough Eco Group’s Wellie Womble Tree! Visit on Saturday from 10am until 4pm or on Sunday from 1pm until 4pm. Entrance is £2 per adult, accompanied children are free, all proceeds will go toward their Hub project . Refreshments will be available. More about this on tomorrow’s Advent Calendar…
There is a Christmas Craft Market at the Tithe Barn! With cards, candles, pinnies, jewellery, bags; all sorts of unique gifts and accessories; there is something for everyone! Pick up out of the ordinary gifts this year, locally made; something special and different! Join in the tombola fun, in support of Cats Protection. Plus a chance to decorate or dedicate a Christmas Tree bauble, to be hung on the tree in town. Open 10.30am until 4pm, admission is free, refreshments served all day.
And to finish off with, All Hallows Church and the Town Council have teamed up together to provide a Christmas Carol Concert in the grounds of All Hallows Church after the Christmas Market, at 3pm. Everyone is welcome to join the celebrations. Do come along and enjoy a mince pie and non- alcoholic mulled wine.
Wellingborough Town Council was formed following a Community Governance Review in 2018. It consists of 23 councillors who were elected for four years on 6th May 2021. Wellingborough Town Council will aim to provide some local services in tandem with other local authorities within the area. It is a community focused council, striving to make Wellingborough a better place to live, work and play.
Wellingborough Christmas Market has been organised by Wellingborough Town Council with North Northamptonshire Council using the Welcome Back fund. North Northamptonshire Council is also using this fund for their Hi Street campaign to promote our High Streets, and look, even Santa is shopping locally this year:
Did you spot Santa when he visited Wellingborough while doing his Christmas shopping? Perhaps tomorrow is the day you you can join him? Emma, Projects Officer at Wellingborough Town Council, told us “Wellingborough is the festive place to be this Saturday. Come to Wellingborough Christmas Market, shop locally, join in the celebrations and have a great time.”
Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Shoots & Spores, a new mushroom shop that has opened at Nene Court and the first shop of its kind in Northamptonshire. They grow many different types of mushrooms including unusual varieties such as Lion’s Mane at the shop, which has a viewing window inside, allowing visitors to see the mushrooms growing and being harvested.
Founded in 2020, Shoots & Spores have been offering a home delivery service to customers and decided to expand into retail premises in October to meet the growing demand for their amazing mushrooms. We popped in on a recommendation from a Wellingborough Eco Group member and met the shop’s owner, Dom, who showed us what they do, so we videoed him for you:
Dom also said: “There has been a huge interest in these amazing ingredients and many studies are ongoing into the possible health benefits. Mushrooms are very delicate and have a short shelf life, so we know our customers appreciate the quality they receive when buying from Shoots & Spores. We have had fantastic feedback; visitors are impressed with the produce and enjoy the experience of seeing the growing room.”
Visit Shoots & Spores today at Units 2-3, Boxpark, Nene Court, The Embankment, Wellingborough, open every Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. They also offer a local delivery service across Northamptonshire. For more information find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or email shootsandspores@gmail.com.
Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for a shop door that will soon be closing. The independent gift and homeware store called Lunar Tree, which specialises in unique, handcrafted and ethical goods will close in Wellingborough for a new life.
The count down is on as Christmas Eve will be the last day trading for the Lunar Tree shop. Owner Amy is closing her shop to concentrate on her hair business which will keep the same name.
Amy said “So much will be missed here but I feel if I don’t follow my heart I run the risk of living with regret. I finally got the narrow boat I’ve been dreaming and working towards, I plan to close the shop to pursue a more simple life on the canals and continue my dreadlock work from there.”
Until then, Lunar Tree is selling its fairly traded, local and ethically sourced goods. Everything they have in stock is 100% Vegan Friendly & Cruelty Free! Here Amy, the shop’s owner, shows you around her shop:
They stock a huge range of incense, candles and other smellies including bath bombs, soaps & brulee’s that smell & look good enough to eat. Other Products include:-
Crystals
Hand Crafted Jewellery
Ethnic Clothing & Tapestries
Wall Hangings, Mirrors & Figurines
Salt/Crystal Lamps & Candle Holders
Oil Burners & Oils- Handmade Cards
Crazy Colours Hair Dye
Boxes & Trinkets
Additionally if you’re thinking about having dreadlocks, this is the place to be. Amy offers customers new dreads, dreadlock maintenance, permanent dreadlock extensions and temporary dread extensions. Amy and Lunar Tree will keep doing the dreads after the shop closes, find them on Facebook to keep up to date.
So pop into Lunar Tree on Cambridge Street and find those special gifts for Christmas. They are open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 17:30, but be sure to get there on or before 24th December for all this lovely stuff and a bunch more nice things to make your family and friends feel ZEN!
Today’s Advent Calendar opens for C. E. Adkins and Sons, your local independent bicycle shop and cycle repair experts. Trading since 1923, Adkins are one of, if not the oldest retailer in town. On the face of it, not much has changed in their 98 years, which is good, because it’s hard to find good ‘old fashioned’ customer service like you do at this shop.
Gerry, grandson of the original Mr Adkins, showed us around. He and his father Dave run the shop. They do have a selection of bicycles for sale but are mainly fixing bicycles at the moment, mainly due to a shortage of bicycles caused by the pandemic. Gerry (pictured below) hopes that these supply issues are sorted soon, as he expects to have sold out by Christmas!
Repairs start from just £9.50 for a puncture, £12 for a bent wheel and £25 for a gear and break service. They also have parts and accessories available.
C. E. Adkins & Sons stayed open throughout the pandemic as an essential repair service at the request of Wellingborough Council. They also support the monthly Critical Mass cycle rides to encourage people to swap four wheels for two, plus are very positive about our Repair Cafes and are happy for us to refer people who need cycles repaired to them.
Visit Adkins Cycle Store at 8a Cambridge Street or call them on 01933 222678. Their opening hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am until 2pm. Do pop in for all of your bicycle repairs or if you fancy something new to ride on.
