In a quiet village in Lancashire at the foot of Boulsworth Hill, lies the 'most community minded village' of Great Britain-where the local population owns and runs the pub, library, shopping and post office.
Of the 2,700 inhabitants of Trabawden, near Burnley, around 150 of them are regularly volunteer to help the vital facilities of the villages.
The good -hearted villagers also organize regular friendship meetings for the elderly and offer transport to and from the events.
The heart -warming initiative started ten years ago when villagers formed the charity of Trabawden Forest Community Center.
They feared that the village died when their community center was closed, so that residents took matters into their own hands, bought it for £ 1 and run it themselves.
The initiative has now been expanded to cover most of the most important facilities of the village with volunteers who are discontent as a reward.
Molly, 51, the volunteer coordinator of the charity, said: 'In the last nine years, local stores have slowly closed one by one and people started traveling the village to do things they would have inside.
“There had always been a sense of community in the village that it felt like it was lost a bit at the time.”
Inhabitants of the friendliest village in Britain have their own store, pub and run friendship meetings for older locals
Jamies Hargreaves, landlord of the trawden arms who pull a pint behind the bar
Volunteers Moira Whittaker serves a customer in the village shop in the community
That community spirit has now worked hard to keep their village supple since their noble coup.
Molly said: 'Residents are proud of their home and the work they do.
“She also gives volunteer work something to look forward to every week …”
Sara Swann, 75, is one of the three volunteer shop directors and Trustee of the charity.
She said that the store, opened from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., needs around 90 volunteers every week to go smoothly, “with 68 of those who work the cash registers during their two -hour services.
Sara, who has lived in the village for 47 years, said: 'Some people do one service a week, others do two and some do one service a month or every other month.
“It doesn't matter how often they do volunteer work what matters is how they always show up and do what they can do – that's how the community works as he does.”
If volunteers do not run the store, they accept deliveries or take care of the accounting books.
Lynne Hoyle and Moira Whittaker, locals and volunteers who work in the community shop
Molly Ralphson coordinates the team of volunteers from the village shop
According to Sara, the store became a limited company in the past year after being 'profitable'.
She said that 'all the money' goes back from the store in the charity.
Last year alone, the store donated £ 45,000 that was filtered back in the community by £ 300 hand -outs to volunteer work that needed it.
Sara said: 'The guides and brownies took their members on travel and the primary school used the money to buy new planters.
“Part of the money also went to the Mountain Rescue so that they could get some new equipment.”
The products of the store come locally from meat from the local butcher and bread and cakes from the local bakery that comes fresh every morning.
Sara says she has seen many friendships come from volunteer work in the store.
She said, “I now know more faces than ever in the village, which is the same for many others.”
Moira Whittaker, volunteer who works in the community shop
Molly Ralphson was outside the Trawden Forest Community Center that was purchased by residents for £ 1
“It is also young and old who become friends, making each other laughing.”
A happy helper said: 'I got to know many nice people, and it helped my mental health enormously.
“I always get away and feel much better than when I went inside.”
Another said, “A shift in the store always puts a smile on my face.”
Members of Trabawden who receive a volunteer benefits, including 10 percent discounts at 15 stores in the city, including the local pub and the Local Garden Center, LBS.
After each service they also receive a lottery ticket that places them in the monthly tombola with the chance to win a prize from a local company – this month Sara says that the dairy farm puts together a gift set.
Around the store you can find the library that Molly says that at least 12 volunteers help keep it clean and tidy.
She said: 'You always see that someone is in their good conversation or sharing a cup of tea while walking past. It is really positive and heartwarming to see. '
The small village of Trawden in the Lancashire countryside seen from the air display
Volunteer Moira Whittaker stacks boards in the Trawden Community Shop
On the other side of the road is Jamie Hargreaves, 35, possession and runs the Trawden Arms Community Pub of the village, next to his wife Sammy-Jo, 27.
The Boozer would be closed in 2021, with plans to possibly turn the location into flats, until a group of locals have been held together to buy his shares that achieved £ 450,000 to keep it alive.
The Four father has owned the pub since January 2023 and says that he has 'really enjoyed it so far'.
He said, “It is starting to get a name for himself to sell a good pub Grub, which we wanted.”
He employs 27 members of the local community.
Jamie says that ingredients used in the food are locally its source from the village and the surrounding area.
De Boozer also sells only local ales from nearby villages such as Burnley and Nelson.
Their hard work has given them two prizes, including the Good Beer Guard and Camra Pemble Pub of the year.
Jamie Hargreaves, landlord of the Trawden Arms Pub, which he rents from the people from Trawden
In the Trawden Arms Pub when it will open
The army of local volunteers who run the community depicted outside the Trawden Arms Pub
The couple, originally from the next city, Colne, said that the community was 'very hospitable' when they first moved.
Jamie is supported by eight volunteers in the Pub Group Committee who says he 'really takes care of us'.
He said, “They put a lot of effort into giving us all the support we need.”
The PUB also works with the community center to attract beer festivals and to support other initiatives.
Jamie said that the pub owned by the community has enabled him to make the Boozer 'thrive' the way he wanted it.
“I had the freedom to make it the heart of the community and that is fantastic in itself.”
A few minutes' walk from the Pub Helen Hodkinson, 62, helps villagers to remain connected in the Trawden Forrest Community Center.
The center was taken over in 2014 for £ 1 from the Pendle Borough Council, after a lack of financing, it was in danger to be closed permanently.
Air views on Trawden with the Trawden Arms Pub, Community Hall and Village Shop, Library and Post Office in the center of the village
Paul Harper, Community Transporter stood next to the small local bus service
She organizes a friendship group that is held at the location every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She said, “About 50 members of the community come down to meet their friends.”
“To ensure that everything runs smoothly, we have around 15 volunteers that I help.”
This includes drivers that ensure that the participants return from the center without any problems.
Helen, who has lived in Trawden for 24 years, said: 'The residents are greeted with a cup of tea and they have a chat for about so.
'Then we have a guest speaker such as the fire brigade or scam services.
“We sometimes set up other entertainment, for example a live singer or sometimes we play board games.”
Halfway through each other at noon, the residents have a two -record meal, times and a dessert, usually from the trawden arms.
More than 120 members of the rural community regularly give up their time to improve village life
A poster calling on the locals to register in the village at events in the Trawden Arms
Helen says: 'It is perhaps the some time and place where residents get to see their friends, it is perhaps the only time they can talk to someone all week. Those who come to appreciate it really. '
A resident who goes to the friendship group regularly said: “I feel much better to get out of the house, it brightens up my day.”
Others said they feel 'less lonely' and that they 'look forward to' their friends.
Helen said that the group would “not be possible” if it wasn't to possess the community center.
Back in the village shop was Michael Pace, 68, the Trawden Post Office Counter Assistant in the past four years.
He says that the locals 'trust' at the 'post office that is open'.
He said: 'Some people who live here do not have the opportunity to enter the next city to post their letters and are very accessible.
“Not only that it is always great to have a Chinwag with the familiar faces that I got to know.”
Mike De Postmaster in the village post office in the Trawden Community Shop
Ann Boocock, 64, who has been chairman of the charity for the past five years, believes that the Trabawden community is happier and healthier thanks to volunteering.
She said: “The community has become more integrated. Most people can now go to the store or the pub and know someone there.
“I have noticed that more people just walk through the village, which is nice to see.”
“Volunteering keeps them active and puts a smile on their faces.”
