A COMMUNITY pub in Keynsham is celebrating after helping to raise almost £100,000 for charity in just one year.
The New Inn was among Craft Union pubs across the UK that raised £1 million for local good causes for the second year running.
The Craft Union’s nationwide ‘Make a Million’ campaign brings together hundreds of community pubs, each supporting local charities through fundraising events, donations and volunteering time.
At the heart of the New Inn’s fundraising efforts are Operation Community Hamper and Dogs Friends.
Operation Community Hamper began five years ago in a local kitchen and has grown into a community charity supporting families in need.
The New Inn has supported the charity by using its skittle alley throughout the year to store donations, hosting fundraising events and acting as a local drop-off hub where people can donate items up to 12 hours a day.
The pub also collects bedding, blankets and food for Dogs Friends, a charity the pub has supported for over 15 years, helping to provide care for dogs in need. Over the past year, the New Inn has hosted a range of activities, including a 24-hour danceathon, ongoing bar collections, and a bake sale by two local girls who sold more than 200 cookies, donating every penny to Operation Community Hamper.
The pub’s efforts have been backed by the wider community, with regulars, local businesses, schools and Brownie groups all getting involved.
As part of the support, Operation Community Hamper has distributed more than £96,000 worth of hampers and gifts, all donated by local people. The pub has also donated around £3,000 to Dogs Friends.
Jemma Lewis, who runs the New Inn, said: “Reaching £1 million raised for charity for the second year running is an incredible achievement for Craft Union, and one we’re really proud to be part of.
“For us, it shows that the pub is about so much more than coming in for a drink – it’s about people coming together and looking out for each other.
“This achievement belongs to our team, our volunteers and the local community – I simply have the privilege of supporting them. The generosity and commitment they show time and time again is what makes this pub and this community so special.”
Pictured above, Jemma Lewis, left, who runs the New Inn, with Charlotte Churchill, founder of Operation Community Hamper. Below, donated items stored at the New Inn
