A GROUP of people have come together in the hopes of keeping Launceston’s high street alive by creating a new community hub in the town.

Since 2021, Launceston residents have been doing their bit to stay sustainable, bringing a jar, a bottle, or a bag to fill with the products they need and paying for exactly what they take, leaving without a scrap of plastic packaging. All of this has been thanks to Let's Get Naked Refill, a shop providing a sustainable alternative to national retailers.

However, after its owner Jade Harvey, decided it was time to close the shop and pursue a new career, a local group stepped in, hoping to save and transform the space into a hub for the community while keeping its original values at its heart - thus Lanson Refill CIC was born, a community interest company bringing the shop into community ownership.

As part of the change, the group have launched a crowdfunding campaign, hoping to raise £25,000 by August 14, with the funds going towards keeping the space sustainable for the future.

The group have argued that not only is this important for the community, it is also important for the environment.

The Lanson Refill CIC team explained in their Crowdfunder: “A single refill shop, used well, can prevent thousands of single-use plastic items from entering the waste stream every year. Every container you bring back is one less piece of packaging manufactured, transported, and discarded.

“Lanson Refill will stock everyday household and personal care products, washing-up liquid, laundry liquid, shampoo, conditioner alongside dry goods like oats, lentils, rice, pasta, nuts, and more. You bring your own container, fill it with exactly what you need, and pay by weight.”

However, the group is also taking the opportunity to transform the space into something more for the community, a hub set to host community workshops, swap and repair events, and volunteering opportunities for people who want to get involved.

“We will build partnerships with local schools, care providers, community groups, and local food producers because we believe this shop can do more than cut plastic,” the spokesperson continued. “It can reduce isolation, strengthen the high street, and give everyone in Launceston a genuine stake in something that is truly theirs.”

Helen Leyva Sanchez, founding director of Lanson Refill CIC, said: “It’s all part of building a hub that brings people together - not just a shop, but a genuine community space at the heart of the high street.

“Jade built something really special here over five years, and we’re thrilled she’s moving on to an exciting new chapter. When we realised what that meant for the shop’s future, we knew we had to act. This is about more than one shop - it’s about keeping Launceston’s high street alive and giving people a reason to connect, shop local, and be part of something together. This is a chance for the community to own a piece of its own high street - to keep something brilliant, sustainable, and completely ours.”

Donations can be made to the cause here.