“If you build it…. They will come”
It all started with a thought and a chat over a countertop.
The 'thought' was to create something for the local community and further afield to enjoy whilst raising the profile of the charity. The 'chat' was with the incredible Keith Simmonds, who has the vinyl stall in the Clevedon Thursday market. And so the Changing Lives Charity Vinyl, CD, and Book Fair was created.
It all began in July 2024 with a dozen tables at the Prince's Hall Community Centre in Clevedon. This was followed in November by a 35-table sellout at the same venue.
The rapidly increasing interest and support, both from stallholders and the public, were such that in March 2025 we moved the location to our warehouse in Kimberley Road, Clevedon, with all 80 tables taken!
We cleared our retail warehouse on Friday. A team of two staff members and three volunteers did this in under four hours and then set up all the tables ready for the main event on Saturday. Stallholders came from near and far - as did the visitors, with one attendee travelling all the way from Newcastle! The public came in their many hundreds, and we have received some fantastic feedback, both concerning the success of the Fair and the tremendous work of Changing Lives. The energy at the event was electric, and in a flash, the day was drawing to a close. Soon, it was time to return the warehouse to the way it was before we had cleared it.
The next Changing Lives Vinyl, CD and Book Fair is at the same venue on Saturday 21st June 2025 and is already a sell-out. This is followed the next day, the 22nd, by a new venture - the Changing Lives Vintage/ Antiques Fair - at the same venue. Details of both these events, which have free public entry, will be available on the Changing Lives website very soon. Coffee, tea and snacks will be on sale both days.
Below are a couple of testimonials from stallholders:
"I have had a Vinyl and CD stall at the three Changing Lives Fairs. The Fairs have been a tremendous success and are a tribute to all the dedicated hard work that Charlotte and her colleagues have put into running them. Charlotte’s innovative, enthusiastic and dedicated work has been instrumental in the Fair's great success. I look forward to having tables at all future Changing Lives' Fairs.
Thank you, Charlotte and your team.
Keith"
"Thank you for all your hard work in setting up the record fair on Saturday. I hope the charity made a decent amount of money this time. We shall look forward to hearing from you when it's time to pay for June’s fair.
Babs"
Charlotte B-H
