Help us support the town centre

Our charity Avon Valley Community Matters and many other members of the community have been busy helping to revive Fordingbridge town centre by brightening up the empty shop windows. Receiving the green light from Fordingbridge Town Council to help visually improve the town centre, and in turn increase footfall in the town, the Empty Windows Project has been supported by estate agents, landlords, businesses, schools, artists and many more, including:

Caxton Decor for donating the wood; the Avon Valley Shed team who put the frames together; Avon Valley Community Matters Charity Shop for gifting the material; the creative talents of the children, staff and volunteers of 1st Fordingbridge Scout Group; Salvation Army Fordingbridge Youth Group; Stepping Stones Preschool Fordingbridge; Forest Edge Learning Federation (Breamore Church of England Primary School; Hyde Church of England Primary School; Hale Primary School); Fordingbridge Junior School; Forres Sandle Manor; the ladies of Sew Friendly for the collages; The Mayor, Fordingbridge Town Council; Goadsby Estate Agents and landlord for their support as well as AVCM volunteer Claire Godson for coordinating the project.

AVCM’s Andy Wilson, said: “Initially, the screens featured panels showcasing scenes related to Fordingbridge and the New Forest. Currently, they display festive Christmas artwork created by local school children and youth groups. The long-term goal of the project is to replace all empty shop windows with vibrant collages, artwork, and other creative displays, transforming the town centre into a more inviting and visually appealing space.”

If you are a local artist and want to display your work or help design the panels, or can offer sewing skiIls to help bring them to life, please email Andy at avcommunitymatters@gmail.com with the heading Shop Windows.