Right from the beginning – when the Galleries Shop was first set up – FLiSCA hoped to generate solar energy for the shop and so to live up to our green values. Some time ago we obtained planning permission for  an array of solar panels installed along the top of the Galleries Field (carefully hidden from view by a “Haha” ditch)..

"I just sit in the café and watch it make money"

Renewable energy installations are profitable now, with a guaranteed inflation-proof price for the whole 25 year life of the system. So a call went out to all local residents seeking investment funds to finance the project.  This suddenly became very urgent when the Government announced a reduction of the solar energy feed-in tariffs for schemes installed after 12th December.  But we did succeed in getting the system in within the deadline.

The system is expected to produce around 13,000 kW hours per year and the cost turned out to be approximately £55,000. The investment is potentially eligible for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), which allows 30 per cent of the cost of the investment to be set against an individual’s Income Tax liability.

Potential investors should  receive a good return: 4.5% pa is anticipated, ignoring the tax benefit (on top of getting their money back).  This represents a substantial part of the expected returns with the remainder going to the Galleries Shop (as lower energy bills) and FLiSCA (for spending on community projects).  For technical reasons the project is organised as a separate legal entity – a Community Benefit Society (CBS) – which is like a coop.  It is called Freshford and Limpley Stoke Energy Community Shares (FLECS) Limited.

FLiSCA would like FLECS to have a broad community investor base. At the same time, a large number of very small investments would cause costly administration and paperwork.  Therefore, contributions of at least £750 are being sought.

The full FLECS offer document is still available, which dates from the time before the system was completed, so some of the figures have changed.

Enough investors have been found to cover the cost – but some are flexible about the exact amount.  So there IS still room for a few more.  Interested parties should email FLECS Chair Stephen Dawson before 15th February when FLECS hopes to finalise arrangements.

Our customers  like walking – so we stock Ordnance Survey Explorer maps.  The map covering Freshford and Limpley Stoke is sheet 155 - entitled Bristol and Bath.  The Galleries Shop always has that map in stock, priced £9.95.

However, Bristol takes up most of that map – with Freshford and Limpley Stoke in the very bottom right-hand corner!  For a more useful map, we’ve asked Ordnance Survey to print a map specially for us, same scale (1:25,000)  – but centred on the Galleries Shop.  This Galleries Map is also available from the shop, priced £22.50. It goes as far east as Corsham and Trowbridge and as far south as Beckington and Westbury.

We’ve just said an emotional goodbye to our first apprentice Andy – who enjoyed his time at the shop, learned a lot while gaining a qualification, made many new friends, and is now busy applying for jobs.  He’s already had some offers but is carrying on looking, his confidence boosted by a year’s useful experience at the shop.

We are now looking for our next apprentice!  The job is being advertised on the Government-supported apprenticeship website – all training towards qualifications being organised and provided by others through Government support.  First4Skills in Bristol are handling all applications for us, so any enquiries should be emailed to their Jason Parry in the first instance.

But we are hoping that we will find another LOCAL youngster – so if you know of anyone, please will you encourage them to apply?  We also welcome any enquiries at the shop.  We expect any potential candidate would want to see what the shop is like and what is involved in the job.  And what friendly manager and volunteers he/she would be working with!

Yes we did make it on to national TV just briefly.  Several of our customers and volunteers  ‘starred’ on the Great British Menu with celebrity chef André Garrett – in the evening of Friday 6^th May.  Many saw the program – others were sorry to miss it.  We tried to get a copy to put on our website – alas the BBC wanted £6000 for a five-minute clip!  When we spent a whole day helping them to film that 5 minutes’ worth.  A committee member did download it at the time – so anyone really keen to see it – email us!

Visitors to the shop have enjoyed looking at the lovely four alpacas in the field opposite.  One of them was pregnant – now the baby is here!  But it’s moved closer to home as it needs keeping an eye on:  find it along Sharpstone Lane now.

The Great British Menu – BBC2

We made it on to national TV last Friday 6th May.   If you missed it you can still see it on Iplayer until Thursday 12th May – our five minutes of fame as part of this popular series.  If you don’t want to watch the entire program, find the interesting bit at about the 11th minute …

The filming happened last November – we got a good insight into just how much effort goes into each few minutes of TV!  Thanks to all the volunteers and customers who helped make it happen.  Alas celebrity chef André Garrett who visited us did not in the end win for the South West so none of us will get to go to the big banquet.  But we’ve already had a few extra customers as a result.

Having a lunchtime meeting in your office?  Galleries Café can now deliver sandwiches for that working lunch anywhere in Freshford or Limpley Stoke.  Email us for a menu and prices.

We WILL require 24 hours notice.

Here is a quote from our first customer for this service:

“Thanks again for the brilliant spread of food and drink. The food arrived on time and we were all very impressed with how well presented the food was as well as the very wide range of fillings served in either wraps or buns which were all delicious.   Everyone at the event really enjoyed the food and came back for seconds and thirds, so much so, that there wasn’t a single wrap left by the end of the day.”

The pictures currently on our shop walls are by Jim Robins who lives in Freshford.   Jim says about them:  “These are Trees of Life.  They’re based on Scandinavian 18C country house wall paintings, in a style probably best described as ‘Vernacular Gustavian’. They’re painted on ply or tongue and groove panels, and look like they were always there…”

Several positive comments have already been overheard at the shop.

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From October onwards, any customer with a Reverse Credit account who hits the £500 mark of spending is entitled to a £5 credit voucher to be spent at the shop.

We have just issued the 16th of these vouchers.

In fact three of them have gone to just one household!

Customers who run out of credit – ie who buy more at the shop than their standing order allows for – can top up their account by credit card.  That way, it counts towards the £500 target.  If on the other hand they pay cash for any purchases then that amount won’t count …