Community shop project Oct/Nov 2023 newsletter |
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Posted by Katherine Kowalski |
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Welcome to the second edition of the bi-monthly newsletter from the Downderry community shop project steering group. Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, we hope you find this newsletter useful, please do share it with friends and family who live locally. |
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Steering group news highlights |
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During October, the steering group has been working to establish the set up of a model and constitution for the community shop development project. We have joined the Plunkett Foundation, a national charity that assists rural communities with the creation and running of community-owned businesses. The Plunkett Foundation is assisting us with the set up of a Community Benefit Society, which will enable our project to raise funds and apply for grants. Alongside this, the steering group has made visits to other community shops in south-east Cornwall to gather expertise and advice that will help shape our thinking and plan for success. The last month has also seen us make progress on our 'wish list' for a shop location, and we are exploring several options, each with something different to offer. The steering group continues to meet weekly and is also engaged with Deviock Parish Council and Downderry and Seaton Residents' Association (DaSRA) to move the community shop project forward. |
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About Community Benefit Societies What is a community benefit society? A community benefit society is an organisation founded to support the needs of the community. |
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How does it work? Community Benefit Societies must only use their assets for the benefits of the community. In simple terms, investors - locals, or anyone who wants to support the community business - buys shares in a registered society. Shares are issued on a one-member, one-vote basis, so each investor has equal influence over the running of the business, regardless of the size of their investment. |
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How does this relate to our project?Once a Community Benefit Society is set up, the community shop project can set up a bank account, raise funds and apply for grants. It is an essential step in moving the project forward. It is a well-established, tried and tested vehicle for community shop projects, with the vast majority being run as Community Benefit Societies. |
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Learnings from other community shops The steering group has made visits to St Germans and St Neot over the last few weeks. Many of you will be familiar with the community shop in St Germans, that has been established since 2010. The team there has been extremely helpful in sharing their experience of setting up and running a successful shop. At St Neot, the community faced losing its shop when the existing village shop owner retired. Over the last eight months, the community have been able to explore options and celebrated the opening of their new village shop at the end of August this year. |
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| | St Germans The shop here is a Community Benefit Society, run by a part-time paid manager, working 26 hours a week, supported by 32 regular volunteers who do 2 hour shifts on a rota. Volunteers have been trained by the shop manager, including Post Office training. The team shared their experience of managing stock, using both specialist and artisan suppliers as well as mainstream wholesalers such as Bookers. The shop stocks many locally sourced products and is proud to support local suppliers wherever possible. The shop makes almost 25 per cent profit on its turnover, which meets (or exceeds) the average annual turnover for a community shop of £161,000. The Post Office has proven to be a profitable and valuable asset as part of the community shop offer. Very much at the heart of the community, shop profits are directed into local charities, organisations and projects. | | |
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| | St Neot The community shop project in St Neot began in January 2023, when the owner of the village shop announced he would be retiring and closing the shop at the end of August 2023. The community were fortunate to have a site available in Cott Yard, in which to site a temporary shop while longer term plans are developed. In St Neot, the steering group explored both community-run models and the option of working with a commercial partner to run the shop in its entirety. The new shop opened in its temporary location on 26th August 2023, stocking newspapers, local produce, meat, tinned goods, fresh and household items. The shop also has a delivery service for those unable to get to the shop. To date, the shop has created four part-time jobs, with more to follow when the new premises is built. The new premises will be considerably larger, which will meet the needs of their commercial partner and will also provide a tea room, community space and potentially a community kitchen. | | |
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Got retail management experience? Want to help? The steering group is looking for a member of the community to join us, either as a full member of the steering group, or on an advisory basis. If you have retail management experience and would like to be involved, please get in touch at info@downderrycommunityshop.co.uk |
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Volunteers Thanks again to everybody who has shared their interest in volunteering in a Community Shop. The steering group will be in touch with you in the weeks to come. Thank you to Downderry & Seaton Residents' Association for agreeing to fund the start up costs for the Community Shop project. This has enabled us to very quickly set up a website and community channels, and to join the Plunkett Foundation which offers crucial support to projects like ours. | | |
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If you have not yet subscribed to the newsletter via the Community Shop website you can do so right here! |
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