How can the church support the market?

The Market Committee welcomes the participation of churches in developing these values, to enrich and add extra value to the market in ways which recognise the integrity of its stall holders and those who come to shop.

Suggested Examples:

1) A visible presence : the ‘Horsforth Matters and Churches Together’ stall

The committee will encourage different churches to host the Churches Together part of this stall each month. This makes the church more accessible to the public and gives opportunity for the churches to promote activities and celebrate good projects they and Churches Together support.
e.g. Youth Groups, Mums and Tots groups, Scouts, Reel Life etc
2) Providing entertainment for young and old.

The Market has an area for entertainment. Churches Together could bless the public by providing a fun activity e.g a Bouncy castle, Giant Games, Face Painting or offer entertainment such as Music, Clowning, Balloon modelling. The Market Committee may have a small budget for some of these activities but would need a group to host them.

3) Celebrating Christian Festivals

Christmas, Easter and Harvest are three large Christian festivals which we can help the public enjoy. e.g. carol singing; creating a community mural.

4) Encouraging community activities

Support projects in our community by giving them space to promote their ideas. Each month the ‘Horsforth Matters’ stall will give a space for one community project.

5) Promoting environmental ideas e.g a cycle workshop; the use of allotments

What the Market Committee asks:

1) The ethos of the Farmers’ Market should be supported by all Churches Together activities.

2) Churches Together activities should take place and remain within their designated area respecting the people’s freedoms to choose what they visit. i.e allowing the public to come to the stall and shopping (talking, being offered leaflets) at the stall as they would at others stalls

3) Activities should be offered at no cost – unless for a discretionary reason which must be approved beforehand by the Market Committee.

4) We seek to be certified as a ‘FARMA’ market and this means any items sold would be in line with the FARMA code. Anything to be sold at the ‘Horsforth Matters’ stall would be at discretion of the Market Committee.

5) No fundraising. Although we recognise many great needs for fundraising, the Committee ask that no fundraising take place on site. Stalls could point people to fundraising ideas or even tell people of where fundraising activities are taking place.
Our reasoning is two-fold:
• to maintain the focus of the market as being a Farmers’ Market
• with so many worthy causes it places an uncomfortable challenge for the committee to decide who is include and who is excluded from such an opportunity.