Sylvania Stores - Doing It For Themselves

By Ebbie Peters (Beacon Heath & Pennsylvania Community Builder)

Working as a Community Builder with Wellbeing Exeter, all was quiet in Pennsylvania. The local shop — once the heartbeat of that Exeter neighbourhood — had closed its doors. It has laid derelict for many years. People talked about it with a kind of sadness that went beyond inconvenience. They missed the shelves, yes — but more than that, they missed the chatter, the smiles, the small daily connections that made the area feel like home. That’s where this story begins. Not with a plan, but with listening.  

I had noticed people has started talking on a Facebook page, sharing tales of the loss of the shop, we chatted initially and made a plan to dive deeper to listen to what local wanted to see in the space 

Listening First 

Joined by keen neighbours, one chilly morning, I set up a pop-up listening post outside — just a table, a flask of tea, and a handwritten sign that said: “Tell us what matters to you in Pennsylvania, what would you like to see.” People stopped to talk. Some only for a minute, others for an hour. They spoke about what they’d lost — but also what they dreamed of. They wanted somewhere to meet, to share, to feel part of something again. And as we listened, a picture began to form. Beneath the quietness, there was energy, ideas, and care — untapped potential waiting for connection. 

Discovering Strengths 

Instead of asking: “What do you need?”, I started asking: “What do you already have? What would you like to see happen?” That question unlocked everything. We discovered a wealth of skills, everyone one had something to give. A young mum who loved baking and dreamed of running a café. A handful of neighbours who remembered when the shop was full of life. People who said: “If something started, I’d help.” Those weren’t needs — those were assets. And my role was simply to connect them. 

Encouragement and Connection 

A small group gathered online, it was covid times but there was a determination grown out of people seeing what was possible when people came together. No agenda, just conversation. We talked about what could be possible. Could the shop reopen as a community business? People were hesitant — they’d never done anything like that before. So my job became one of encouragement. I helped link them to others who’d done it elsewhere. I signposted them to advice and small grants. I  helped facilitated early meetings — and gently kept the energy going when doubt crept in. But most importantly, I reminded them that this was their project, not mine. 

When the Community Leads 

Over the next few months, something remarkable happened. Residents formed a committee, found suppliers, painted walls, and designed logos. The sound of hammers replaced the silence of the shuttered shop.

And then, one sunny day in 2021, Sylvania Community Stores & Café reopened its doors — entirely run by local volunteers. There were cheers, laughter, and a queue out the door. That day, Sylvania didn’t just reopen a shop — it reclaimed its sense of community. 

The Ripple Effect 

Since reopening, Sylvania Stores has become one of the most loved local spaces in the area. It’s a shop, a café, and a social hub — but most importantly, it’s a place of connection: 

• Older residents who once felt isolated now volunteer behind the counter. 

• Parents meet for coffee after the school run, supporting one another. 

• Local artists host creative afternoons in the café, bringing colour and confidence back into people’s lives. 

• Social prescribers now refer residents there as a gentle, community-based pathway to wellbeing. 

It’s everyday wellbeing — built not through services, but through relationships. 

Stepping Back 

As a Community Builder, my proudest moment came when I realised they didn’t really need me anymore. The committee ran their own meetings. Volunteers handled the rota. They made decisions with confidence and care. That’s what true community development looks like — listening, connecting, encouraging, and then stepping back. Because when people are trusted to lead, they discover their own power. 

The Impact 

Today, Sylvania Stores stands as a model of community resilience and wellbeing: 

• Over 60 volunteers have contributed their time and skills. 

• Dozens of residents now have stronger social connections and improved confidence. 

• Social prescribing partners regularly refer people there for gentle, everyday engagement. 

• Every pound spent stays local — strengthening the neighbourhood economy. 

But the real impact isn’t in numbers — it’s in moments:

• The smile of someone who hasn’t spoken to anyone all week. 

• The pride in a volunteer’s eyes when they open the doors each morning. 

• The quiet hum of belonging. 

The Lesson 

Sylvania Stores reminds us that community change doesn’t start with a service or a strategy — it starts with listening. It starts with seeing people not as clients, but as contributors. It starts when we shift the question from “What’s missing?” to “What’s strong?” That’s the heart of Wellbeing Exeter’s community building approach — creating the conditions for people to connect, lead, and grow together. And sometimes, all it takes is a kettle, a conversation, and the courage to believe that the answers already live within the community itself. 

Sylvania Stores isn’t just a shop — it’s proof that when you start with listening, you can build belonging.