Membership

What we do

The Plunkett Foundation is the national organisation helping rural communities to believe in what they can achieve together through community ownership. Despite the perception of the ‘rural idyll’ rural communities face many challenges: the decline of essential retail services like village shops, limited public transport provision, withdrawal of public services like healthcare or libraries or lack of affordable housing. As part of the lifeline for rural survival, Plunkett supports the increasing number of communities who are looking to themselves to take control of these challenges, from saving their local pub as a co-operative to providing fresh, local food for the whole community.

We make a real difference to the lives of rural people.
Through our dedicated central team, our phone and email support, our UK wide regional advisers and over 50 specialist consultants we make sure that when rural communities come to us, we are there to help.

We are part of the lifeline for rural survival.

Plunkett is the recognised national supporter of community-owned shops in the UK. We have supported the majority of the 300 community shops open today in some way, whether it’s help finding funding, specialist business advice, marketing support or space and time to learn from and be inspired by each other through our online forum or one of our networking events.

Our experience of working with community-owned shops has given us knowledge and expertise unparalleled in the sector. We listen to the needs of rural communities and apply this knowledge to their own situation, helping people to apply the power of community ownership to a range of rural enterprises, from transport and broadband to laundrettes and bookshops. 

Why become a member of the Plunkett Foundation?

Whether you are an already-established community-owned shop, a community just in the initial stages of setting up an enterprise or an individual or supportive organisation, we have a membership package that will suit you. Use the tabs on the left hand side to find out more. You can also contact our Membership Officer, Harriet English, directly on 01993 814372 or by emailing harriet.english@plunkett.co.uk.