WANTAGE’S new community shop will be taken over for its first two weeks with fundraising fun activities for county good causes.

Charity champion Ray Collins will be commandeering The Mix, Mill Street, to promote charities from Monday, February 3.

Organisations will also be giving out information on their projects and events.

Activities will include raffles, tombolas, bake sales, arts and craft workshops, tarot and fortune telling and refreshments.

These will support good causes including Oxford Children’s Hospital, Cri Du Chat, Wantage’s Sweatbox youth club and more.

The shop will be provided from the end of this month free of charge to the community by its owners. This has been arranged by Vale of White Horse District Council and will also be used by groups like the guides and Wantage Community Church.

Mr Collins said: “I am absolutely buzzing about all the fantastic events we have got lined up. There is so much to tell people about.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for my causes and several more to raise funds and awareness in a fantastic community space in the heart of Wantage.”

Visitors will able to sign up for a Welsh Male Voice Choir concert at Wantage Parish Church on March 1 and a moonlight walkabout along the Ridgeway from Wantage on March 22.

Mr Collins, who works at Peter Ledbury electricals in Wantage, has raised more than £50,000 in the last eight years for local schools, hospitals and community groups.

Mr Collins will also be promoting Ray’s Wantage Carnival on June 7 and 8.

Entry forms, tickets and information on how to advertise at one of these events will be available at The Mix.

He will also exhibit plans for new play equipment at Manor Road recreation ground, drawn up by a committee of which he is chairman.

He added: “The main focus is to give Wantage the recreational facilities the community deserves.”

Mr Collins has already committed all the funds raised at this year’s carnival to the park project.