FIVER Fest is returning to Maldon from 12 to 26 June to help promote and support the town centre's independent shops and businesses.

Maldon is joining with more than 100 Independent High Streets across the UK to put on a whole host of very special £5 offers across the two weeks in June, in the Totally Locally Fiver Fest, which is held nationally.

Allison Gray, Owner of Willow & Fox and Chair of Maldon Business Board, said "Fiver Fest is now a big part of our promotion for Maldon.

"The independent shops and businesses are what makes our town special and unique. The community support for local businesses has been amazing during lockdown, so these offers are to say thank you to customers, and to highlight the great value and economic impact of shopping locally."

Totally Locally is a national grass roots organisation which helps independent businesses to promote themselves and thrive. For Fiver Fest 2021, Totally Locally is partnering with Visa, and together, they are calling on shoppers to divert £5 of their weekly spend to support the small businesses in their communities.

Allison said: "If every adult in Maldon spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £2.8 million per year going directly into our local economy. Which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy and a nicer place to live."

"Spending just £5 a week in Maldon can make a big difference to our High Street and the Fiver Fest promotes this message."

Fiver Fest has been running successfully in individual towns in the UK and abroad over the past seven years, and last October 130 towns joined in together to make one huge Fiver Fest across the UK - from the North of Scotland to the very South of England.

Fiver Fest Offers have been imaginative and varied; from £5 gift items, £5 locally sourced meat packs, £5 best-selling book offers to £5 lunch deals. And where the community really got behind the campaign, many businesses found it to be their busiest time outside of Christmas.

"We know Fiver Fest isn't going to change the world", said Chris Sands of Totally Locally, "But small changes in spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. Just by diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive. The pandemic has shown just what an amazing contribution they make to our local communities. It's a conversation worth having!"

This year, Fiver Fest in Maldon is being sponsored by Blackwater Printing and Advance Digital Graphics, which are producing banners and posters for the independent businesses wanting to take part.

Any independent High Street businesses wishing to participate in the Fiver Fest in Maldon contact Allison Gray via email at: [email protected]

Details of Maldon's £5 offers will be also be available on the Around Maldon website in due course.

The Keep it Local campaign is being launched through Maldon District Council's Sense of Place initiative, with funding from the Magnox Decommissioning Fund.