A night of live music raised thousands of pounds for the campaign to buy the Heavens Valley on behalf of the community.
Nearly £1,000, after costs, was raised from ticket sales and donations while an additional £3,125 was pledged, to be paid when the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society’s charitable status comes into effect. This will add 25% to the value of the pledges through Gift Aid.
And 13 people promised to pay £50 each to buy a share in the Society, meaning they can join other shareholders in having a say in how the land is managed if the Society’s offer to buy the land is successful.
The For Heavens’ Sake Music Festival at Stroud Brewery featured three bands: SUSAN, The Greater Good, and singer-songwriter Natalie Shay with Joey Oscar.
Dozens of people bought tickets to attend the gig. The money raised will be added to the £300,000-plus already pledged by members of the community or gained from fundraising events.
Martin Whiteside, one of the Society’s directors, said: “All the money will go to saving the Heavens Valley. Two very generous local people have lent us the money to buy the land in the short term. Now every penny raised will enable us to pay them back and secure a bit more of the land to be protected and owned by the community for ever.”
The Society’s fundraising coordinator, Annabel Richmond, said: “We are so grateful for the generous support of the bands, who played for free, and to Stroud Brewery for hosting.”
The HVCBS is currently waiting to hear if its offer to buy Thrupp Farm, which includes the Heavens Valley, has been accepted. If it is, the Society will contact everyone who has made pledges to ask them to convert their pledges into money. As well as making donations, the whole community has the chance to buy one share each in the Society, costing £50.
For further information about the Heavens campaign, to pledge support or to join the team of volunteers: http://www.heavensvalley.org.uk
