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Media Resources for The Honesty Jar project

Our webpage and social media (especially Facebook) contain many photos.
​If you would like high-resolution copies of any of these, please email a screenshot to Sam, and we'll reply with a higher-quality copy.

Sam's email...
[email protected]

Main webpage...
www.bearcatcollective.co.uk/the-honesty-jar.html
​
Social Media for The Honesty Jar...
www.facebook.com/thehonestyjar
www.instagram.com/thehonestyjar

In a Nutshell..

The Honesty Jar is an independent local community reuse project with a unique way of helping those in need, it’s a shop with no prices, pay what you feel! Find us in Henstridge on the Dorset/Somerset border, our 40 regular volunteers help to keep the 100 tonnes of donations we receive every year out of landfill. We need your support, it costs £100/day to stay open six days a week 10am-4pm (closed Wednesdays). We accept anything that will fit on a shelf or rail. Donations close at 3pm. You can visit us to find fabulous bargains, join our fundraising events and craft workshops, enter our monthly 50/50 Club prizedraw, or donate to ‘The Jar’ online to keep this great community project sustainable and bringing our 1000 local visitors together every month.

Larger file size images...

Photo of front of shop
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Women and baby looking through clothes rail
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Some volunteers
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Some shop photos for online sharing...

Social Media Post

Imagine a shop where everything has a story - and no price tags! Welcome to The Honesty Jar, your feel-good community reuse project based in Henstridge, right on the Dorset/Somerset border!

It's all about second chances - for both pre-loved items and people. With over 100 tonnes of donations saved from landfill every year, 40 amazing volunteers keep this place running with heart and purpose.
Here’s the twist: You pay what you feel! Yes, it’s shopping powered by kindness.

Open 6 days a week (10am–4pm, closed Wednesdays), and it takes £100 a day to keep the doors open. That’s where you come in!

How you can get involved:
* Find amazing treasures (for whatever you can afford)
* Drop off donations before 3pm (if it fits on a shelf or rail, they'll take it!)
* Join craft workshops & fun fundraisers
* Enter the monthly 50/50 Prize Draw Club
* Or donate online to keep ‘The Jar’ alive and thriving

They welcome over 1,000 visitors every month - be one of them and help us keep this beautiful community project going strong!

Follow, share, support. Let’s do good - together.

Links…
Event diary… https://www.bearcatcollective.co.uk/diary.html

50/50 Club Prizedraw… https://www.bearcatcollective.co.uk/thj5050club.html

#TheHonestyJar #ShopWithHeart #ReuseRevolution #PayWhatYouFeel #CommunityPowered #KindnessEconomy #PrelovedTreasure #WasteNotWantNot #SustainableLiving #LandfillDiversion #EcoCommunity #LocalLegends #SupportLocalProjects #VolunteerVibes #FeelGoodShopping #CraftAndConnect #Henstridge #Sherborne #Somerset #Dorset #SomersetAndDorset

Local press release 300 words

Discover Hidden Treasures and Make a Difference at The Honesty Jar

Are you looking for a unique bargain, or maybe a meaningful way to give back to your community? The Honesty Jar in Henstridge invites you to be part of something special. Our community reuse project is a bustling hub where treasures are rediscovered and useful items are kept out of landfill.

We have lots of visitors who explore our huge selection of items, anything that fits on a shelf or rail, from clothes and books to toys, games, textiles and homeware. You can find something unexpected and affordable while supporting a great cause. What makes us unique? We operate on a simple, heartwarming principle: visitors make a voluntary contribution in ‘The Jar,’ allowing them to take home whatever they find regardless of financial means. We also host craft and repair workshops, community events, and family bingo afternoons.

But we’re not just here for the shoppers—we need YOU! We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help us sort, organise, and display donations. It’s a fun and rewarding way to get involved in your community, learn new skills, and meet people. No pricing required—just a helping hand and a positive attitude.

With around 40 volunteers, we process over 100 tonnes of donations annually. Flexible shifts (10am-1pm/1pm-4pm) to fit your schedule, whether you can commit to a regular slot or prefer to pop in occasionally. Open six days a week (10am-4pm every day except Wednesdays), set within the lovely grounds of a family-run garden center, making it a charming spot to volunteer or shop. Ready to join the team? Visit us, message our page on Facebook, or email to find out how you can get involved. Let's make a difference together! [email protected]

More Words on 'The Jar' ...

Uniting for a Greener, Kinder Future: The Heartwarming Mission of The Honesty Jar


In a quiet corner on the Dorset-Somerset border, something extraordinary is happening. At first glance, The Honesty Jar SwapShop in Henstridge may look like a humble collection of second-hand treasures, but dig a little deeper and you’ll uncover a vibrant, community-driven initiative that’s changing lives, forging new friendships, and helping the environment—one donation at a time.

Run entirely by volunteers, The Honesty Jar is no ordinary shop. There are no fixed prices here. Instead, visitors are invited to make a voluntary donation—whatever they can afford—into “The Jar.” This simple concept allows everyone, regardless of income, to access useful items ranging from clothes and books to toys, games, and homeware. It’s a dignified, inclusive way to redistribute resources while supporting a greater mission: strengthening community bonds and promoting sustainability.

At its core, The Honesty Jar is about connection. Not just with material goods, but with people. It’s a space where generosity flows freely, where a once-loved toy might bring joy to a new family, or a forgotten book sparks inspiration in a new reader. It’s a model of circular economy in action, where giving and receiving are equally valued.

Since its inception in 2019—an initiative by the local BearCat Collective—The Honesty Jar has grown into a lively, purposeful hub. Operating from the family run Grassroots Garden Centre, the SwapShop attracts around 1,000 visitors every month. Volunteers, roughly 40 strong, keep the wheels turning, collectively processing over 100 tonnes of donations every year. That’s 100 tonnes kept out of landfill, rehomed and repurposed within the local community.

And the impact doesn’t end there.

Profits generated from donations go back into the community through a variety of family-friendly events and essential training programs. Live music, craft days, and bingo afternoons bring neighbours together, while workshops on mental health, autism awareness, and dementia care provide vital education and support. Additionally, selected items are gifted to local organisations assisting people facing homelessness, hardship, and isolation.

What’s truly inspiring is how The Honesty Jar has become a platform for collective action. Whether it’s dropping off items (before 3pm, please!), volunteering for a three-hour shift, or simply popping coins in The Jar, every contribution—no matter how small—plays a part in sustaining this social and environmental mission. It costs around £100 a day to keep the project running six days a week, yet it’s powered almost entirely by goodwill and community spirit, contritbutions are welcome by card and paypal too.

Volunteering here isn’t just about sorting clothes or tidying shelves. It’s a chance to meet new people, share skills, and be part of something bigger than yourself. Flexible shifts make it accessible to all, whether you're a regular helper or a spontaneous drop-in. For many, it’s also a source of personal enrichment—offering purpose, connection, and the simple joy of making a difference.

In a time when many communities are becoming increasingly disconnected, The Honesty Jar is a refreshing reminder of what we can achieve together. It proves that with a little heart and a lot of teamwork, a few unwanted items can spark hope, foster resilience, and build a stronger, more compassionate world.

So, next time you're nearby, why not stop in? Discover a hidden gem, lend a hand, or just say hello. Because at The Honesty Jar, everyone is welcome—and every little act of kindness helps the whole community thrive.

To learn more or get involved, visit us at the Grassroots Garden Centre (open 10am–4pm, closed Wednesdays), message us on Facebook, or email [email protected]. Let's build something beautiful—together.
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BearCat Collective is a not-for-profit group of skilled professionals and trained volunteers bringing accessible, hands-on family education and entertainment to local community venues across Wessex

Live Music - Health & Social Care Training - Craft Workshops
Family Activities - SwapShop - ToySwap

Contributions to The Honesty Jar

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Our Projects are Supported by :-
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BearCat working in partnership with:-
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