A NEW type of shop has opened in Weymouth to help people struggling with rising living costs.

Local non-profit Weyforward CIC has opened The Circular Shop - a ‘general store’ with a difference - at number 30 Lennox Street in the Park District.

The Circular Shop offers the community a borrowing library of essential items to promote the ‘circular economy’ where recycling and reuse are key. Organisers believe it is the very first of its kind in the UK and have launched a crowdfunding initiative to help with running costs.

"If we can make it work and financially stand on its own two feet we will then share how we did it with lots of other communities around the country,” says Weyforward director, Jason West.

Items such as carpet cleaners, pressure washers and other household appliances donated to the shop are checked, repaired, and are available for people to borrow for a small fee.

But the project is much more than just a 'library of things.' A micro eco pop-up shop will enable makers, creators and artists who use foraged or recycled materials to rent a one metre square space for a nominal fee and have their work promoted.

On sale will be low-emission recycled biomass solid fuel briquettes sourced from a local joiner, at bulk prices to help with heating costs. The briquettes are just six per cent moisture so burn very hot and with fewer emissions than seasoned or kiln dried wood.

Customers will also be able to buy foraged local seaweed powder sourced from Weymouth Bay which is being dried and milled on the premises, and said to be "a great flavour enhancing food additive."

Foraged seaweed sourced from Weymouth Bay is being dried and milled on the premises

Other ideas in the pipeline include selling surplus organic fruit and vegetables from local allotments, and repair clinic appointments.

The team also will be running a podcast offering advice on eco-house retrofitting, foraging food and other sustainability topics.

Mr West says the initiative has been set up to ease the financial burden for people living in one of the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in England - which is also at the very bottom of the UK social mobility index.

"The focus is 100 per cent on building sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change whilst educating and collaborating as we go," he added.

Could this be the UK's first Circular Shop?

People are being called upon to donate to the fundraiser if they can, to help raise £2,500 to cover the shop rent and utilities for six months.

"We have taken a while to get to this stage and have already used grant money from our successful Kickstart programme last year to develop the shop," said Mr West. "We just need a little bit longer to take root in the community and generate our own sustainable income. The idea is to use crowdfunding and possibly a grant to make sure we survive to become fully self-sustaining."

To find out more and donate visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-circular-shop

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