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<title>The Plunkett Foundation news headlines</title>
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<title>Landmark event to fuel rural community enterprises</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/597</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/597</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[   Experts gather to support rural communities to inspire innovative business ideas to rejuvenate rural villagesA free landmark event to help rural communities save vital services and reverse the trend of rural decline has been announced today.The Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS national conference will draw on the widest range of experts from across the rural and social enterprise sectors to give communities the support they need to rejuvenate their villages by setting up community enterprises – from shops and pubs to local food and transport projects. UK Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, Peter Ainsworth, will be joined on the... ]]></description>
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<title>First ever review of rural social enterprise highlights key role in maintaining and developing rural services and assets</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/595</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/595</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Social enterprises are increasingly being developed by rural communities to take control of the issues affecting them, states new report from Plunkett Foundation commissioned by Defra.The Review of Rural Social Enterprise in England is the first systematic review of the many various forms of community led social enterprise across rural England and the impact they have on rural communities.Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said: “The Review of Rural Social Enterprise in England has found that, despite the challenges facing rural areas, communities are responding through a range of community led social enterprises.”Couchman continued: “Rural social enterprises come... ]]></description>
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<title>Community shops prove resilient despite current downturn</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/594</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/594</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ New report into sector’s 2011 performance from Plunkett FoundationSt Tudy Community Shop, one of the 19 to open in 2011Community-owned shops are continuing to prove their resilience despite the economic downturn forcing many other businesses to close, states a new report. Nineteen new shops opened in 2011, with the highest concentration being in the South East with 7, closely followed by the South West with 5.The report, released by rural communities charity Plunkett Foundation, is a summary of the support it provided to communities across the UK in 2011. It finds:There are now 271 community-owned shops in the UK19 opened... ]]></description>
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<title>Merry Christmas and Happy New Co-operative Year from the Plunkett Foundation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/593</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/593</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It is always a pleasure to wish Plunkett website visitors a Happy New Year, but is even more special to do so when we know that that year will be ours. The 2012 UN Year of Co-operatives gives us an opportunity the like of which we have never had before. At the Plunkett Foundation we have the pleasure of working with some of the world’s smallest co-operatives, each of which has a big impact on the community they serve.  The UN Year is our chance to share with everyone what co-operation has done to protect services, jobs and communities. So,... ]]></description>
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<title>Building a Mutual Post Office - Plunkett Foundation Consultation Response</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/592</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/592</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation is responding to this Department for Business, Innovation &amp; Skills consultation on Building a Mutual Post Office for two main reasons:1. As the only national organisation supporting the network of 268 community-owned village shops across the UK, 58% of which provide facilities for Post Office services.2. As an organisation founded in 1919 which has been committed since this time to promoting and supporting co-operative and mutual enterprises in rural communities internationally as a way of improving the social and economic conditions for rural people and the communities they represent.SummaryA summary of the Plunkett Foundation’s response:• The Post Office is a... ]]></description>
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<title>Social Enterprise heavyweights to descend on London</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/587</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/587</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Big Lottery Fund’s Chief Executive, Peter Wanless, will join forces with Plunkett’s Peter Couchman and Locality’s Steve Wyler for the finale of this year’s Village SOS roadshow, which has brought the most comprehensive business and funding advice ever available to rural communities. The event, which will be on Friday 16th December at Cavendish Conference Centre in London, will be the last of thirteen events to have taken place across the UK since October. The events have been a roaring success, with Preston and Cambridge being the best attended to date (with 110 and 112 attendees respectively), and have brought... ]]></description>
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<title>Simply Start Up - a practical guide for community-owned enterprirses</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/585</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/585</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A new guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates has been published.The guide – Simply Start Up – was written by Co-operatives UK and Plunkett Foundation as part of the Making Local Food Work programme and uses community food enterprises as examples of what is possible through co-operation, although the guidance applies to a vast range of community enterprises, from taking over a local shop, starting a community-owned and run newspaper or cinema, to building a community-owned windfarm. Providing an easy... ]]></description>
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<title>Save the date! Making Local Food Work national conference</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/581</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/581</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Making Local Food Work national conference has been announced! As the Making Local Food Work programme draws to a close next year, this will be the last national conference and the last opportunity to attend one of these fantastic events. The event will take place on Tuesday 20th March 2012 at the Mermaid Conference Centre in London. Full details will be announced shortly, but you can register interest by emailing Eileen Keenan at info@makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk or by calling 01993 810730. ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett supports winning projects</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/578</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/578</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ No fewer than six enterprises that have been supported by Plunkett Foundation have either won or been nominated in top national awards designed to highlight the best of the food and farming world. This week Brockweir and Hewelsfield Village Shop was crowned ‘Britain’s Best Farm Shop’ by The Times. Brockweir has benefited from the support Plunkett provides to community-owned shops through its dedicated advice team, regional advisers and online support forum, www.plunkett.uk.net. It is also a member of the Plunkett Community Shop Network, a membership scheme that gives community shops access to a unique range of benefits and savings on... ]]></description>
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<title>Village SOS Roadshow gets off to a flying start!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/577</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/577</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Village SOS in Yorkshire – second event a huge successThe second of the Village SOS Roadshow events was held in Doncaster on Wednesday 19th October at Doncaster Racecourse. The day was hugely successful, with 85 people from across Yorkshire turning out for a day of expert advice and inspiration. Big Lottery Fund’s Head of Region for Yorkshire and Humber, Paul Jones, welcomed people to the day and did a fantastic job of setting the scene, talking candidly about the some of the challenges his village had faced, like lack of accessible services – a common problem for many rural communities.... ]]></description>
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<title>Tickets now available for Community Shops Networking event in the South West</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/576</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/576</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  Thursday 10th NovemberDillington House, Ilminster, Somerset.Hosted by the Plunkett Foundation in partnership with Somerset Rural Community Council, we are delighted to present this Community Shops Networking Event in Somerset on the 10th November as the latest addition to the popular series of national networking events for community shops.With over 80 shops already thriving in the South West, this event has the potential to be one of the largest yet, providing community shops across the region with a unique chance to network, make new connections and foster established relationships. As a national networking event, the day will also see shops from... ]]></description>
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<title>Free national events series to help rural communities</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/575</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/575</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Village SOS Roadshow series launches in BristolMonday 10th OctoberThe Watershed, BristolFREE eventThe Big Lottery Fund is set to launch a series of events that will see every English region and Scotland being visited twice, Wales three times and Northern Ireland once, taking the message of community enterprise out to rural communities. The series of 24 regional events plus a national conference is being delivered by Plunkett Foundation and its partners as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS Active campaign, designed to help rural communities combat decline in their areas by setting up community enterprises. The series will kick off... ]]></description>
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<title>Colne Valley declares food independence</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/574</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/574</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Event takes Colne Valley a step closer to self-sufficiency On Monday 12th September, an event was held that saw business, community and public sector organisations in the Colne Valley declare independence from global and industrial foods.The event, organised by a group of four local organisations, invited local enterprises to join with them in signing a manifesto of independence from the corporate and global food system. Taking place during Colne Valley Food Festival, it will see representatives of key businesses, shops, community organisations, restaurants, schools, politicians and the local authority all in attendance.Attendees at the event.The last nine months has seen... ]]></description>
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<title>Funding still available to set up community shops in North Norfolk</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/572</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/572</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A project that sees £110,000 available for communities to set up and run their own shops is calling for applications.The project sees Plunkett Foundation joining forces with Victory Housing Trust and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to deliver £110,000 in grants, loans and specialist advice for North Norfolk communities wishing to buck the trend of rural decline in their areas by establishing shops owned and run by the communities themselves. With only three community shops, North Norfolk will benefit greatly from additional financial support and advice from the project.  It is hoped that the project will inspire similar partnerships between housing... ]]></description>
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<title>Communities lead the way in shaping government policy</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/571</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/571</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Westminster event highlights vital contribution of Community Food Enterprises (CFEs) in delivering and shaping government agendasAn event was held yesterday to highlight the key role community food enterprises play in delivering and shaping government policy.The event, organised by rural communities charity Plunkett Foundation and held at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), brought together community food enterprises from the South West to showcase the vital contribution they make to the food sector to Defra ministers and employees. June and Robin Small of Taunton Farmers' MarketAlso present at the event were Plunkett Foundation’s partner organisations Social Enterprise UK,... ]]></description>
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<title>New support for communities across UK to reverse rural decline through enterprise</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/565</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/565</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Village SOS Active campaign will see national advice line &amp; expert support rolled out to rural communities A new campaign is set to be launched to help people in rural areas reverse the trend of decline by helping them set up and run community enterprises. Village SOS Active is a campaign by the Big Lottery Fund (http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/) which is being delivered with rural communities charity the Plunkett Foundation, in partnership with Co-operatives UK, Locality, and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). It will be launched on 10th August 2011 as part of the BBC’s new six-part series, Village SOS. The Active... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Community Shop Network goes from strength to strength</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/561</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/561</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Community Shop Network, a national membership scheme to unite community-owned shops across the country, is going from strength to strength, with the 32nd shop being approved this week. The Network was launched in March following close consultation with representatives from the network of 259 community-owned shops across the UK. The Network not only represents a way for shops to formally join together as a united sector, but also enables them to take advantage of a unique benefits package that could see them saving in the region of £2,000. The benefits package offers member shops deals on electricity from... ]]></description>
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<title>Local pubs can be saved by communities forming co-operatives, says Rory Stewart MP</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/549</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/549</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Helping communities to set up and run co-operative pubs is key to saving rural pubs.  This was the message from Rory Stewart MP at an event at the Old Crown co-operative pub in Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria, on Saturday 2nd July.Rory Stewart MP (centre) with Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation (left) and constituents at the Old Crown, the first co-operative pub.At the event, organised by the Plunkett Foundation, an organisation which helps rural communities to set up community-owned enterprises, communities looking to save their local were joined by a range of experts and communities who had already saved their... ]]></description>
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<title>Praise for Plunkett Foundation in the Guardian</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/542</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/542</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation has received praise in national newspaper the Guardian this week. The editorial 'In praise of the Plunkett Foundation' raises awareness of our work and our values, reiterating the messages of our founder, Sir Horace Plunkett, and how they are relevant for today's rural communities. The piece can be read online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/20/in-praise-of-plunkett-foundation.The Foundation’s Mike Perry also appeared on Radio 4’s You and Yours programme last week as part of a feature on community-owned shops.The programme, which featured Nenthead Community Shop in Cumbria, focused on the services Plunkett Foundation provides to rural communities and the support it offers through its Village... ]]></description>
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<title>Co-operative archivist awarded Plunkett Foundation Fellowship</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/533</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/533</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A former journalist who dedicated 10 years of her life to clarifying the influence of one of Ireland’s leading political figures has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the Plunkett Foundation. Kate Targett, who was awarded the Fellowship at the Foundation’s AGM and Annual Seminar in Westminster on 8 June, transcribed, annotated and indexed the fifty-one handwritten diaries of Sir Horace Plunkett, the rural pioneer who influenced the social and political landscape of Ireland, England and America. Pictured at the AGM are Chief Executive Peter Couchman, Kate Targett and Chair Peter Cleasby.Speaking at the event, Kate said: “A Fellowship recognising my... ]]></description>
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<title>Join us at Jamie Oliver's Big Feastival!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/523</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/523</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Making Local Food Work team from t!he Plunkett Foundation will be exhibiting at the food and music event of the year, The Big Feastival, in London at the beginning of July.Brainchild of Jamie Oliver, The Big Feastival brings together one of the most exciting line-ups of the summer with celebrity chefs, restaurants and food producers from across the country. With a focus on family, food and fun, the Big Feastival is a must-see for everyone! We’ll be manning a very special stand across the three-day festival, which takes place on Clapham Common in London 1-3 July 2011. For more... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation on BBC Breakfast news</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/519</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/519</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 10:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation and Plymtree Community Shop were featured on the BBC's national breakfast news yesterday, Monday 30 May. The piece highlighted the value of the community shop in Plymtree and the strength of the sector as a whole. It was broadcast throughout the morning with an accompanying editorial on the BBC's Business section of the website. You can watch the video here and read the accompanying web article here. ]]></description>
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<title>First co-operative pub in Yorkshire celebrates its first successful year</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/517</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/517</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 10:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The first Co-operative Pub in Yorkshire (and the third in the country!) is celebrating its first successful year trading in its annual report, which has just been released. The report, which can be downloaded here, goes through the community of Hudswell's journey to save its only local, the George and Dragon, charting their successes and how they overcame the challenges presented. &#160; ]]></description>
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<title>Measuring the impact of community food enterprises</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/516</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/516</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 09:38:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ National drive launched to measure the real social and economic impact of the UK’s community food enterprisesA national drive has been launched in an attempt to measure the real social and economic impact of community food enterprises in the UK.Led by Making Local Food Work – a Big Lottery funded programme delivered by the Plunkett Foundation – the research project aims to address the current problem that exists throughout the entire third sector of measuring the true impact of social enterprises. The impact of social enterprises is notoriously hard to measure, given that their objectives are primarily social rather than... ]]></description>
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<title>New project to help communities in north Norfolk</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/512</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/512</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 09:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation has joined forces with Victory Housing Trust and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to deliver a project in north Norfolk that will see £110,000 being injected into the area for the development of new community-owned shops. With only three community shops, north Norfolk will benefit greatly from additional financial support and advice from the project.  It is hoped that the project will inspire similar partnerships between housing associations and support organisations for the development of community shops. “We are delighted to receive this money from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation,” said Victory chief executive John Archibald.  “It is a powerful... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation's Annual Seminar 2011 - Localism: shifting rural powers</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/511</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/511</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 09:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[   We are now taking bookings for our 2011 Annual Seminar, Localism: shifting rural powers, which is set to take place on Wednesday 8th June in Westminster. Tickets can be booked via the online booking system at http://plunkettseminar2011.eventbrite.com/. Localism: shifting rural powers will explore the shifting balance of political influence and community empowerment affecting rural communities today and the impact this will have in the near future. In light of recent changes, rural communities have been asked to step up to the mark to take control of the issues affecting them. The Government is committed to empowering communities and this... ]]></description>
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<title>Hampshire villagers raise £300K for new community shop premises</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/510</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/510</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 17:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Woodgreen Community Shop celebrates new premises opening with party for whole communitySaturday 14th May 2011 11:30am: Opening Ceremony – 6pm: Hog Roast, BBQ, beer tent &amp; bandsResidents of a Hampshire village are set to celebrate the opening of brand new shop premises after raising over £300,000. Woodgreen Community Shop – owned and run by the community itself – managed to raise £120k from donations and fund-raising events alone to contribute to the building of custom-made timber and red brick premises (pictured right), with the remainder of the required funds being secured through grants from various sources including the Big Lottery... ]]></description>
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<title>Rooting community food in an enterprising future - an invitation to join the debate</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/505</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/505</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Local food has made national headlines recently with the news that a third of British adults will be growing their own vegetables this summer in an effort to combat rising food costs in times of austerity. Although this is an encouraging statistic for the local food movement, there still remain two thirds of adults unable to participate due to lack of knowledge, skills and various perceived barriers such as not having access to an allotment. But allotments are not the only way of gaining access to locally-produced food. The national Making Local Food Work programme works with both urban and... ]]></description>
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<title>Fifth co-operative pub in the country to officially open today</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/504</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/504</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Fox and Hounds Inn in Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria, is set to enjoy its official opening today – and become the fifth pub in the UK to be owned and run by the whole community. After being threatened with losing the pub – a vital hub of the rural village – the community pulled together to raise the remarkable total of £77,600 in just ten days. “There were those who thought that the community would never meet such a big target of £67,000 within the 10-day deadline that was set,” said project manager Peter Maher. “Instead the fundraising raced away... ]]></description>
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<title>Community shop sector celebrates as Yarpole scoops top national win</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/503</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/503</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Yarpole Community Shop – the first ever custom-built shop to open in a church – named Best Village Shop at Countryside Alliance Awards A community-owned shop in Yarpole, near Leominster, has fought off stiff competition from across the entire country to be named Best Village Shop and Post Office at the prestigious Countryside Alliance Awards national finals, held yesterday (Wednesday 30th March) at the House of Lords. When Yarpole – a small rural village of only 700 people – lost the last shop in their village in 2005, the community were left stranded with no vital service. Undaunted, they sprang... ]]></description>
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<title>Co-operation is ‘the beautiful idea’ needed for human progress, says new report</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/499</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/499</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:13:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Co-operatives and mutuals need to be recognised as ‘the beautiful idea’ that is the key to human progress.  This is the message from a new publication launched this week by co-operative expert and Fellow and former Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, Edgar Parnell.‘Co-operation – the beautiful idea’ is based on Edgar Parnell’s lifetime of working in and supporting the development of co-operatives and mutuals worldwide.  The new 80 page publication aims to explain in a straightforward way why co-operatives and mutuals are a better form of business and what those involved in the practice of co-operation need to do... ]]></description>
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<title>Regional Community Shops Networking Event proves great success!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/498</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/498</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation hosted its Regional Networking Event for community-owned shops at Eynsham Hall yesterday and launched its brand new membership scheme to 130 delegates representing almost 60 shops - our largest networking event to date. Plunkett Foundation's Chief Executive, Peter Couchman, pictured front left, with members of the Steering Group and representatives from Oxfordshire shops. Front row (l-r): Peter Couchman; Project Manager Donna Smith; Plunkett Board member Susan Knox; Shop Adviser Helen Melia and Community Retail Manager, James Alcock. The Plunkett Community Shop Network is a national membership scheme which will unite the community shop sector and provide a model of best practice for... ]]></description>
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<title>Peopleton Community Shop on Countryfile!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/491</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/491</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s been an exciting week for community-owned shops, with Hudswell’s The Little Shop opening creating a media frenzy everywhere from local radio stations to BBC 5live, Kirdford Village Stores winning the Daily Telegraph’s Best Village Shop in Britain award and four community-owned shops becoming regional winners at the Countryside Alliance Awards. And it shows no sign of slowing down; Sunday’s Countryfile episode was dedicated to celebrating 60 years of Radio 4’s The Archers, the longest-running radio drama, and to celebrate Countryfile visited a ‘real-life’ community shop in action – that of Peopleton in Worcestershire. Not only did Plunkett advise the BBC... ]]></description>
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<title>Record win for community-owned shops at Countryside Alliance Awards</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/490</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/490</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Community-owned shops become winners in FIVE regions, joining the running for national awards in MarchThe community-owned shop sector is celebrating a record win at this year’s Countryside Alliance Awards, with four being selected as regional winners. The winners, stretching the length of the country, are: Humshaugh Village Shop, Northumberland; Storth Village Shop, Cumbria; Yarpole Village Shop, West Midlands; The Shop at Strood Green, Surrey (right) and The Galleries Shop and Café, Freshford, Somerset.The winning shops are five of 255 community-owned shops across the UK, which open at an average rate of 19 per year – saving 5% of the 400 village shops that... ]]></description>
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<title>Are you passionate about rural communities?</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/489</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/489</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Communities AssistantSalary: £19,000 - £21,500 Location: Woodstock, OxfordshireThe Plunkett Foundation has been changing lives in rural communities since 1919. We work as strategic partners with numerous government departments, funders and support organisations. We are the only national organisation providing dedicated support and expertise to rural communities who wish to set-up and run a community-owned shop. Join us as a Communities Assistant, and you’ll work at the forefront of our extremely worthwhile organisation.Using your demonstrable understanding of rural communities, you’ll expand on our existing community shop activity and will help us extend the same support to other forms of community owned... ]]></description>
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<title>Smallest community-owned shop in the country opened by celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/488</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/488</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A community-owned shop in Yorkshire which is thought to be the smallest of its kind in the country enjoyed its official opening last weekend by local celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager.  Photo courtesy of Stuart Boulton/Northern Echo.The appropriately-named ‘Little Shop’ in Hudswell, North Yorkshire, is a mere ten feet by ten feet, yet provides a vital and much-used service to the entire community. Although already having been trading for the past month, The Little Shop enjoyed its official opening on Saturday 19 February at 12pm. Owned and run by the community itself, The Little Shop not only offers residents of Hudswell everyday items... ]]></description>
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<title>Community shop wins Daily Telegraph's 'Best Village Shop in Britain' Award</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/487</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/487</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A community-owned shop has beaten off stiff competition to be awarded the sought-after title of Daily Telegraph Best Corner/Village Shop in Britain. At an awards ceremony in London on Thursday 10 February, Kirdford Community Shop was bestowed the award by Mary Portas, self-titled Queen of Shops. Kirdford Village Shop is located in the heart of Kirdford, between Petworth and Billingshurst, West Sussex. Occupying a timber-framed building, which once formed part of Kirdford Growers, the village shop is more than just a place to buy groceries.  It is community owned and managed and all profits go back to the benefit of... ]]></description>
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<title>Press Statement: A Real Community Right to Buy is needed to stop communities losing their local pub and shop</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/481</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/481</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Government is being urged to strengthen its proposals to ensure a real Community Right to Buy is given to communities to help them save their local shops and pubs from closing.  This is the message from the Plunkett Foundation in response to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s consultation on proposed new powers under the Community Right to Buy, which is part of the Localism Bill.The proposals, announced today, are seen as a key stage in the Government’s plan to move from Big Government to the Big Society. Speaking in response to the proposals, Peter Couchman, Chief Executive... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation to unveil new national benefits package</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/473</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/473</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation is to announce the details of a new national benefits package for community-owned shops at its regional networking event in March. The third Regional Community-owned Shops Networking Event is set to take place on Tuesday 15 March at Eynsham Hall in Witney, Oxfordshire. The event will see the unveiling of a brand new benefits package for community-owned shops, which has been developed by the Plunkett Foundation as a direct response to their needs. The package will enable community-owned shops to access competitive deals and discounts on a range of essential services, including energy, insurance, card payment services,... ]]></description>
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<title>Community-owned shops show the way to build the Big Society, says new report</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/472</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/472</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The most comprehensive survey into the health of the community-owned shop sector ever to be undertaken sees its results being made public this week by social enterprise support organisation the Plunkett Foundation. The report, which draws on information from community-owned shops across the UK, assesses the health and wealth of the sector today and provides an in-depth analysis into its profitability and contribution to the local economy. Community-owned shops have been one of the leading success stories of the social enterprise movement in the UK to date.  At the beginning of 2011 there were 251 community-owned shops, with new ones... ]]></description>
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<title>Oxfordshire community shops report huge increase in sales in snowy December...</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/464</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/464</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ …as snow costs supermarket Tesco an estimated £50millionCommunity-owned shops across Oxfordshire enjoyed record sales in December thanks to the snowy weather conditions, with some shops reporting increases in takings of as much as 285% from the previous year, the Plunkett Foundation reports. Residents of Oxfordshire villages like Ascott and East Hagbourne were left stranded by snowy conditions, which began late on Friday 17 December. But, thanks to their shop – both owned and run by the community itself – were still able to buy in their Christmas supplies. Ascott Village Shop reported a record increase of 90% over the four... ]]></description>
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<title>Happy New Year from the Plunkett Foundation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/463</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/463</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:56:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation would like to wish everyone a very happy new year and every success for 2011. The last year saw twenty-two rural communities joining those who have saved their local shop through co-operative action. It saw over eighty joining the queue to get Government support to save their local pub. And it saw the Co-operative Movement rallying round to help those people when the Government turned its back on them.Julie Walters officially opening Kirdford Village Shop, one of the twenty-two shops to have been saved through co-operation in 2010. We are in a battle against time to help communities up and... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett welcomes Community Right to Buy proposals but calls for more rights for rural communities</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/462</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/462</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation has welcomed the Government’s commitment to the Community Right to Buy as part of the Localism Bill but has warned that three new community rights need to be in place to make the Right to Buy work for rural communities. Plunkett are calling for three new rights:1. The right to first refusal 2. The right to a minimum of a 6 month window for communities to prepare a bid 3. The right to access appropriate financial and business support and advice Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, says:  “The Plunkett Foundation welcomes the government’s announcement today committing to... ]]></description>
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<title>New guidelines for setting up community-owned shops in churches</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/461</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/461</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A new set of guidelines have been launched today providing advice on setting up community-owned shops in churches.The Plunkett Foundation has offered its expertise in community ownership to develop the publication, Guidelines and Best Practice for the Provision of Community Shops in Churches and Chapels, in partnership with the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division and the National Rural Officers for the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church.Yarpole in Herefordshire, who have embraced their church as an ideal host to their community-owned shop.Church buildings may often be the only community space in a village or a deprived... ]]></description>
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<title>Big Society at risk of ignoring potential of enterprising rural communities</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/458</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/458</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Big Society should not ignore the potential of enterprising rural communities.  This was the message from rural campaigners the Plunkett Foundation at Better Business, their annual Rural Social Enterprise Conference, held in Telford on Thursday 25th November.“The withdrawal of public services and the closure of private business, including shops and pubs, are having a huge impact on rural communities,” says Peter Couchman (pictured right), Plunkett’s Chief Executive. “The Big Society vision is at risk of ignoring the potential that enterprise has for tackling the challenges facing rural communities. Communities are best-placed to address the problems that are affecting them,... ]]></description>
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<title>Event raises profile of Suffolk's local food offering through community-owned shops</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/447</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/447</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The county of Suffolk played host to a fantastic event on Monday 1 November which saw over 70 representatives from the cream of community enterprises and local food producers the East of England has to offer in attendance.Organised by the Plunkett Foundation and Suffolk ACRE, the event was designed to share best practice among successful community-owned shops and foster relations between food producers and suppliers, increasing access to quality, fresh and locally-produced food for people across Suffolk and the East of England. Coverage of the day by BBC Look East can be viewed here.Suffolk boasts a range of fantastic producers,... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation welcomes Government commitment to explore a mutual future for the Post Office</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/446</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/446</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Following today's announcement, the Plunkett Foundation has welcomed the Government’s commitment to exploring a mutual future for the Post Office. “Rural communities live in fear of losing their postal services”, said Chief Executive Peter Couchman, “but a properly designed mutual could give them ownership of the very services they are trying to save.” Plunkett, which supports many of Britain’s rural community-owned shops that operate post offices, has called on them to play an active role in helping to explore how they could become part-owners of the Post Office network.Read the announcement in full here. For any press and media enquiries,... ]]></description>
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<title>Better Business: The Plunkett Foundation's 10th Annual Rural Social Enterprise Conference 2010</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/443</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/443</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:04:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Better Business: Have you booked your place? Thursday 25th November 2010, 10am to 4pmTelford International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JHThe Plunkett Foundation’s Annual Rural Social Enterprise Conference series is essential for anyone interested in social enterprise and rural development. The 10th in the series, Better Business will explore how social enterprise offers the strongest and most viable model for rural communities to take ownership of the issues that affect them. Plunkett is delighted to welcome Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, as key speaker at the event. Peter Couchman, Plunkett’s Chief Executive, will also address delegates... ]]></description>
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<title>NEW REPORT REVEALS EXTENT OF CONSUMER CONCERN FOR FAIR FOOD</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/439</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/439</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:13:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Two thirds of consumers agree fairness in food is of growing importance, new research revealsNew research published this month has confirmed fair food is well and truly on the consumer agenda, with concern for where and how food is produced becoming an increasing priority for consumers as well as MEPs, who last week backed plans to ensure a fairer food supply chain. The research was commissioned as part of the Fair Food Campaign for Making Local Food Work, a five-year £10m programme funded through the Big Lottery Fund. The research revealed that fairness in food is a driving force behind consumer attitudes... ]]></description>
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<title>Calling Communities: Making Local Food Work launches new project to investigate Local Food Systems</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/438</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/438</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Making Local Food Work is delighted to announce the launch of a new project to investigate the practicalities that make local food systems work. The project is an exciting new strand of Making Local Food Work, a five year, £10m programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund to invest in local food initiatives in rural and urban England, increasing access to fresh, healthy food with good, traceable origins. As part of the new project, Making Local Food Work is looking to work with 4 to 6 communities – both rural and urban – to develop resilient, co-operative activities to improve the... ]]></description>
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<title>Co-operative movement steps in to support 82 communities left stranded by pubs support programme cut</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/432</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/432</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Representatives from a range of co-operative organisations have agreed to step in to provide support to the communities left stranded by the government pub saving programme being cut to open co-operative pubs.  This was the outcome of a “Co-operative Pubs Summit” held in the wake of the Government decision to axe its community-owned pubs support programme. The main concern of the organisations attending the summit, held at the Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket, the first co-operative pub in England, was the needs of the 82 communities which had approached the scheme for help but have now been left stranded.  There are... ]]></description>
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<title>Support for community food enterprises benefits over 1.4m people</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/424</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/424</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A shining example of how communities are taking control of their futures came this week with the announcement that the Making Local Food Work programme, delivered in part by the Plunkett Foundation, has already benefitted over 1.4million people.Making Local Food Work, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, reported that it had already exceeded its target of reaching out to 1million people by 2012, with a staggering 1.4million people being provided with better access to local food by sustainable community enterprises. Jennifer Smith, Head of managing Making Local Food Work, commented: “We’re thrilled to report such... ]]></description>
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<title>Farmers' markets groups share skills to improve performance</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/423</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/423</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Herefordshire Farmers’ Market Group has been taking advantage of a scheme offered through the Plunkett Foundation’s Making Local Food Work programme which facilitates the sharing of expertise and experience to enhance its performance.It was noticed that Taunton Farmers’ Market, which takes place on Thursdays, returned more than twice as much value as the Hereford Thursday and Saturday markets combined during a presentation of its Retail HealthCheck TM results. The similarities of the two markets suggested that Taunton Farmers’ Market could share useful experiences and practices with Herefordshire, so the Making Local Food Work Skillshare project stepped in to fund a... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE: Communities left stranded as Government turns its back on Pub saving programme</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/415</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/415</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A race against time has begun to help communities wanting to save their local pub after the Government turned its back on offering support to the 39 communities facing pub closures every week. It was announced today that an emergency Co-operative Pub Summit is being called by the Plunkett Foundation as a response to news that a co-operative pubs support programme has been cancelled.The Community-Owned Pubs Support Programme was announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government in March as part of a 12 point plan for helping pubs.  Despite no formal launch, 82 communities sought the help of... ]]></description>
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<title>Peter Cleasby announced as new Chair of the Plunkett Foundation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/414</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/414</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Peter Cleasby has been elected as the new Chair of the Plunkett Foundation.  Peter succeeds Susan Knox OBE in the role.Peter Cleasby joined the Plunkett Board in April 2008, becoming Vice-Chair in February 2009.  Until 2006 he was a deputy director of rural policy at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), championing social enterprise approaches across the Department’s business. Peter is a director of a small consultancy business.Speaking after his election, Peter Cleasby said: “It is difficult to imagine a more exciting time than now to become Chair of the Plunkett Foundation.  Our belief in rural communities... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation's Annual Review 2010 launched</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/404</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/404</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ 'Never before have the solutions that the Plunkett Foundation supports attracted so much attention in a single year.'Plunkett Foundation Annual Review 2010 (pdf)Introduction by Peter Couchman, Chief Executive The majority of national newspapers ran stories about rural communities taking control. The main Party manifestos each made reference to the importance of saving shops and pubs. Our reputation grew even more when the good people of Ambridge decided to save their village shop with the help of Plunkett. Over 800,000 people listened every night to The Archers explaining how a village shop could be saved. One national newspaper described the year as... ]]></description>
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<title>Distinguished Co-operators Awarded Plunkett Foundation Fellowships</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/403</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/403</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Two distinguished co-operators have been awarded Fellowships by the Plunkett Foundation at their annual seminar and AGM in Oxford on 9 June.   Edgar Parnell, former Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, and Dr Rita Rhodes, academic and writer on international co-operation and a long standing member of the Plunkett Foundation, were awarded their Fellowships for their outstanding contribution to the work of the Plunkett Foundation.PHOTO: Susan Knox (Plunkett Foundation Chair), Rita Rhodes, Edgar Parnell and Peter Couchman (Plunkett Foundation Chief Executive)  Edgar Parnell, speaking at the event, said: &quot;It is my privilege to have the award of a Plunkett Foundation Fellowship.... ]]></description>
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<title>Julie Walters opens landmark community-owned shop</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/402</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/402</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Kirdford community-owned village shop in Sussex was opened by actor Julie Walters on 5th June.  The shop opening, following hot on the heels of the community-owned shop on Radio 4’s The Archers this week, is the fiftieth new shop to open following the support of a dedicated support programme for communities looking to set up and run a community-owned shop.Following the closure of their village shop in 2006, the village of Kirdford rallied together to ensure that this valuable village service was not lost.  Over the last three years, the village of Kirdford has raised in excess of £200,000 through... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE: The Archers Community-Owned Shop opening is the beginning of a rural services revolution</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/401</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/401</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ After months of anticipation, the villagers of Ambridge in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers have celebrated the opening of their community-owned shop. In setting up their own shop, they have followed a path chosen by an increasing number of rural communities across the UK, many of whom are so empowered by their success that they’re going on to create more community-owned enterprises such as pubs, local food schemes and broadband services.The storyline on The Archers, which the Plunkett Foundation has been advising on, began in October in a way that would be familiar to many rural communities.  The shop owner,... ]]></description>
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<title>PLUNKETT EVENT: Community-Ownership and the Future of Rural Services - 9 June 2010, Oxford</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/400</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/400</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 11:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Date: 09 June 2010 - 10am - 4pmLocation: Oxford University Department for Continuing EducationRewley House1 Wellington SquareOxfordOX1 2JAOverviewDownload booking formThe closure and withdrawal of services has left a growing number of rural communities without access to a range of essential services including local shops, pubs, transport and health services.  With public funding in short supply, will the government be able to less to prevent this happening?While services have increasingly closed or been withdrawn in recent years, there has been a growing movement of rural communities setting up and running community-owned services as a way of taking control of the issues... ]]></description>
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<title>Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, welcomes new government</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/392</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/392</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 11:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said:“There are great expectations for change from the new government.  This combined with the public sector finance squeeze means that there are huge challenges ahead.  &quot;Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have included fantastic commitments for support community activity as a way of improving people’s lives and we believe that the Right to Try for rural communities is a tool that can be used to achieve this. &quot;The Right to Try for rural communities through community-ownership to take control of the issues affecting them is a model which has been increasingly used... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News now online for week ending 14.05.2010</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/391</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/391</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 May 2010 11:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Plunkett Weekly News is the latest news from the Plunkett Foundation and that affecting social enterprise and co-operatives, farming, food and rural development.Download Plunkett Weekly News This week in the Plunkett Weekly News:Plunkett Foundation News-Plunkett Foundation Welcomes New Coalition Government-Plunkett Annual Seminar and AGM-Media and Communications Officer Vacancy-LlankellyChase Foundation to Support the Development of Community-Owned Shops-Market Overton, Rutland, Celebrate Their New Community-Owned Shop-Loxley Valley Community Farm on Radio 4-Community Food Enterprises up to the Challenge of Climate Change Co-operative and Social Enterprise News-Nick Hurd Appointed Minister of Civil Society-Cameron and Clegg Launch The Big Society-Communities and Local Government Ministerial Team Announced-The Role... ]]></description>
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<title>The LankellyChase Foundation to support development of community-owned village shops</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/389</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/389</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 16:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation is pleased to announce that The LankellyChase Foundation is working with the Plunkett Foundation and its partners in supporting the development of community-owned village shops.The LankellyChase Foundation is an endowed grant making Charitable Trust which works to promote positive social change and aims to improve the quality of people’s lives, has begun providing support for the Village CORE Programme. The programme is a support programme which has enabled 48 new community-owned village shops to open over the last four years.Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said, “We are delighted that The LankellyChase Foundation has joined... ]]></description>
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<title>Market Overton, a village in Rutland, celebrates the opening of their new community-owned village shop</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/388</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/388</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 12:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Market Overton, a village in Rutland, celebrated the re-opening of their village shop as a community-owned enterprise on Saturday 15 May.The community-owned shop, the latest to open following support of the Village CORE Programme, opened just sixteen weeks after the previous shop owners announced that they were closing the shop.Andy Cleverdon, Chair of the committee which oversaw the shop development said, “After a crazy 16 weeks we think we've pulled off an amazing feat. When the old shop shut no-one really knew what would happen but the whole village rose to the challenge and with the fantastic funding support from... ]]></description>
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<title>The Latest Plunkett Weekly News for week ending 7 May 2010</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/382</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/382</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2010 20:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ See the latest Plunkett Weekly News (download pdf.) for: Plunkett NewsPlunkett Perspective on the latest Local Food and Climate Change Report Co-operatives and Social EnterpriseCommunity Groups Set to Lose out in Asset TransferCommunity Awards from Kerrygold!Social Entrepreneurs Called Upon to Defend Civil SocietySocial Enterprise: Must Stay Vigilant Says the SEC Farming and FoodShoppers Not Responding to Climate ChangeUN Policy of Doubling Food Production on 'Flawed Data.'Scholarship to Fight Poultry Skills Shortage Rural DevelopmentAmerican Bank to Target Disgruntled Rural CustomersCRC Look into Mobile Phone CoverageWinners Announced of BBC's Village SOSSouth West RDA Invests £50k to First 3D Testing SystemEconomic Impact of the NWDA 1999-2009 Published International NewsOnline... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 30 April 2010</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/376</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/376</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 12:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This week in the Plunkett Weekly News (download pdf):Plunkett Foundation news:Archers community-owned shop to open on June 2New report says community food enterprises up to the challenge of climate changeCo-operatives and Social Enterprise news:Social enterprises and co-operatives shortlisted for Observer Ethical AwardsSupporters Direct Annual Conference: ‘Join the Debate’ – 12 to 13 June 2010, LondonNew partnership offers support for affordable homes in Somerset and DorsetFarming and Food news:Buying groups unite for dairy farmersFirst Milk appoint new Chief ExecutiveEU farm leaders call for more co-op powerRural Development news:Broadband boost for remote villagesRCAN Fieldworks Conference 2010, 8th-9th June, YorkEnvironmental technology shaping tomorrow’s... ]]></description>
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<title>Archers community-owned shop to open on 2 June</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/375</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/375</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2010 12:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Ambridge, the fictional home of The Archers, will be celebrating next month with the announcement that their new community-owned shop will open its doors on 2 June.In October listeners heard how the only shop in Ambridge was threatened with closure after the owners decided to sell up. As it is the only shop in the community, villagers reacted with shock and concern at the decline of this vital community service which provides so much to so many people in the community.  Since then, The Archers have taken their 800,000 daily listeners through the process of a community coming together to... ]]></description>
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<title>Community-led food enterprises are up for the challenge of climate change says new report</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/374</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/374</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 09:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Community food enterprises can play a role in helping to tackle the challenge of climate change through empowering local people and communities to take action.  This is the main message from a new report launched this week [Wednesday 5th May] at a major national conference in Manchester.The report ‘Local food and climate change – the role of community food enterprises ’ identified the potential for communities on a local level across England to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in every part of the food chain, including transport.Peter Couchman, Director of Making Local Food Work and Chief Executive of... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett and dedicated community-owned shop support programme featured on The Archers again!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/373</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/373</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation made it's fourth appearance on The Archers last night (Wednesday 28th May).Ambridge, the fictional local for The Archer, is setting up a community-owned shop to save their village shop which has been threatened with closure.Like many other communities in this situation, the community turned to the Plunkett Foundation and our dedicated support programme for community-owned shops, The Village CORE Programme.  This programme has opened 48 new community-owned shops over the past four years.You can listen again to the programme by following the link below (it is around 7.30 minutes into the programme).http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00s2pbn/The_Archers_28_04_2010/ ]]></description>
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<title>Support for local communities to set up community-owned pubs announced</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/358</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/358</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ PRESS RELEASE: SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SET UP COMMUNITY-OWNED PUBS ANNOUNCED&#160;A new support programme has been announced to help local communities to set up and run community-owned pubs.  The support programme, led by the Plunkett Foundation, is part of a 12 point action plan announced by Pubs Minister John Healey to give practical support to community pubs up and down the country.&#160;Almost 40 pubs are closing each week leaving many communities without access to a pub.  Co-operative-ownership has been a proven success in saving village shops with record numbers opening in 2009.  Community-owned shops now save or reopen 10%... ]]></description>
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<title>Online network launch is the start of a new era for community-owned shops</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/357</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/357</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Online network launch is the start of a new era for community-owned shopsThe launch of a new online network has been hailed as the start of a new era for community-owned village shop development in the UK.  The network, hosted by the Plunkett Foundation, enables people involved in setting up and running community-owned shops to communicate with each other, share ideas and experience across the UK and be inspired by others.The new network (www.plunkett.uk.net) was launched on Friday 12 March at Thorncombe Community-Owned Village Shop in West Dorset by Oliver Letwin MP who alongside being Thorncombe’s local MP is also... ]]></description>
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<title>Feckenham community-owned village shop wins national Best Village Shop Award at the Countryside Alliance Awards</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/337</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/337</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Feckenham Village Shop in Worcestershire, a community-owned shop in supported by the Village CORE Programme has won a national award for the best village shop and post office at the Countryside Alliance Awards at the Houses of Lords this week, (Wednesday 3 February).Sue and Grey DarbyThe shop in Feckenham is one of over 230 community-owned rural shops currently in the UK, 37 of which opened in 2009. The shops come in various shapes and sizes, reflecting the needs of their communities. Some are based in purpose-built premises whilst other are based in previous shops, village halls, portacabins, churches and pubs.... ]]></description>
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<title>Rural communities should have the Right to Try set up community-owned enterprises say MPs</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/336</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/336</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  Rural communities should have the Right to Try to take control of the issues important to them through community-ownership.  This was the message from Rural Communities - The Right to Try, a Plunkett Foundation conference held on 27th January in London.Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett FoundationPeter Couchman, Chief Executive Officer of the Plunkett Foundation said: “Rural communities want to take ownership of the issues affecting them but are often prevented from doing so because of barriers around a lack of rights and a lack of support.  We are exploring why and how these barriers must be removed, to... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Quick off the mark</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/316</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/316</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:41:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Congratulations to the Rural Services Network for being so quick of the mark in launching its manifesto on the first working day of the New Year. It makes fascinating reading to see the wide variety of needs identified by the Network's members, including ourselves. It also shows the huge challenge that whoever forms the next Government will face given the state of public funding. The challenge with a manifesto is that they always look lopsided as they have to be about what the Government should do, when we all know that life if never as simple as that. Plunkett is... ]]></description>
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<title>Communities must be engaged in the future of food, says Making Local Food Work</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/315</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/315</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:08:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Government’s Food 2030 report needs to go a step further by engaging communities in food production and food security according to Making Local Food Work, a partnership of organisations which help communities to take ownership of their food and where it comes from.Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation which leads the Making Local Food Work partnership said; “While we welcome this as the first major food report in sixty years, we feel that the vision set out in the report does not reflect the change in the relationships that consumers increasingly want to have with the food... ]]></description>
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<title>Merry Christmas from all at the Plunkett Foundation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/306</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/306</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In 2009 we celebrated 90 years of helping rural people to believe in what they can achieve together.This year we have:Helped rural communities to set up and run community-owned shopsAssisted rural communities to take control of vital rural servicesSupported people to take ownership of their food and where it comes fromReconnected producers and consumers through local foodThank you to everyone we have worked with during the year to make this possible.Plunkett Foundation Christmas E-Card (pdf 121KB) ]]></description>
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<title>PLUNKETT EVENT: Rural Communities - The Right to Try, 27th January, London</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/305</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/305</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Faced with declining or threatened local services, limited job opportunities, not enough affordable housing and looming public expenditure cuts, we need new ways to sustain the quality of life in rural communities. DATE: 27th January 2010LOCATION: Cavendish Conference Centre, London (map and directions)Delegate Booking Form (download Word doc)Exhibitor Booking Form (download Word doc)Latest NewsJim Paice MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Alun Michael MP, Vice President of the Local Government Association confirmed as keynote speakers.Jim Paice MP was appointed Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and has remained on the front bench ever since. Following the 2001 General... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE: Community-owned shop goes ahead on The Archers</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/289</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/289</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[  Ambridge, the village which the world’s longest running radio soap The Archers is based upon, has chosen community-ownership as the answer to saving the last shop in the community.  The Plunkett Foundation supports rural communities to set up and run community-owned shops.  It has worked with the show’s producers to highlight how real communities are combating village shop closures, by taking control of the very thing they are faced with losing.Currently in Ambridge, the only shop and post office is going to close. After serious consideration at a recent Parish Council meeting, villagers decided that the best way to keep... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE Rural Community Transport in England to benefit from new Social Enterprise Development Fund</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/281</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/281</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Community Transport Association (CTA) and the Plunkett Foundation have announced a new three year Social Enterprise Rural Community Transport Development Fund.  The new fund will offer grant/loan packages to eight organisations around England to enable them to significantly grow their contract income.  The funding package will be backed up by a range of training, development and networking support provided by the CTA and Plunkett over the life of the programme.  The funding, totalling almost £1 million, will be input by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Department for Transport, the Commission for Rural Communities and Futurebuilders England. Further information on... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - The End of the Beginning</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/283</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/283</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Rural community-owned enterprise is on a roll. A banner headline in the Sunday Telegraph proclaims &quot;The Rise of the Archers Co-operative&quot;. The best part of a million people tune in to hear the residents of Ambridge discuss how to save their village shop through community ownership. In the real world, store openings are at record levels with many more in the pipeline. It's a great time to be at Plunkett, but let's not get carried away.The boom in community-owned village stores is fantastic news, but we still have a long way to go in rural community-ownership. The shop is just... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Perspective blog - The Transition to co-operation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/282</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/282</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Every so often, you get to speak at an event where the energy coming off the audience makes you feel like you're standing in front of an open fire. I had that last week when I spoke at the Transition North event in Slaithwaite. The event was an ambitious one, bringing together not only transition supporters from across the North, but also a broad range of people from the co-operative movement. Sponsored by The Co-operative Group, it was a real chance to explore links between the two movements.Following on from leading light in the Transition Towns movement Rob Hopkins and... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Mutual Friends</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/273</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/273</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:13:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I was delighted that Plunkett's work has been recognised in this year's Mutuals Yearbook, which case studied one of the village stores. The yearbook is produced by Mutuo, the impressive think-tank which promotes the role of mutuals.This recognition was extended to an invite to speak on membership at the annual Mutuals Forum alongside the Eaga Partnership and Luton &amp; Dunstable Hospital Foundation Trust. What could our shops teach such a gathering of major mutual organisations? Quite a lot was my argument.The freshness and vitality of our recently formed mutual enterprises meant that their members were doing many things that some... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 16 October 2009</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/269</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/269</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Plunkett Foundation News 16.10.2009PLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s Perspective revisits Plunkett’s roots with a trip to Ireland and the Plunkett House; the first home of the Plunkett Foundation. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman NEW MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK REPORT RELEASED  Community Investment in Community Supported Agriculture was produced by community shares expert Jim Brown for the Community Supported Agriculture Strand of Making Local Food Work.The report can be downloaded from Making Local Food Work partner the Soil Association's website.  Follow the link http://tiny.cc/oaegs  https://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/news/news.cfm/newsid/115  HAMBLEDON VILLAGE SHOP... ]]></description>
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<title>(OTS) Campbell Robb to move to shelter</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/267</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/267</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Campbell Robb, Director General of the Office of the Third Sector and Social Exclusion, has announced he will take up a new post as Chief Executive of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter in the new year. Cabinet Office will make an announcement on Campbell’s replacement in the very near future. Campbell Robb was appointed as the first Director General of the Office of the Third Sector in May 2006. During this time he has successfully delivered a comprehensive programme of support for the sector, worth over £515m. Under his leadership, OTS has delivered a further package, worth around £60m... ]]></description>
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<title>Happy birthday FARMA!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/266</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/266</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ FARMA has marked its 30th birthday. FARMA, the Natinal Farmers Retail and Markets Association, represents farmers, growers, producers and farmers' market organisers throughout the UK. They are the only organisation in the UK dedicated to supporting the local direct sales sector and driving local foods. Members gathered from across the UK at Packington Moor Farm to enjoy a delicious local meal prepared by the award-winning catering team there. Speakers commented on the incredible journey of the local food sector, from the Association's roots in the pick-your-own movement of the 1970s and 80s, then the rise of farm shops in the... ]]></description>
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<title>(MLFW) Community Supported Agriculture - Northern Training Programme</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/265</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/265</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Soil Association is we are running a series of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) training days over the winter months as part of the ‘Making Local Food Work’ Programme.  All these events will take place in Leeds or Sheffield, and are free to CSA practitioners. They are being led by experts in the various fields, and are designed to  provide the technical knowledge and confidence to launch or expand your Community-Supported Agriculture project. The first event, Business Planning for CSAs, is being run by Julie White and John Metcalfe, both social enterprise consultants who between them have decades of experience... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation Parish Council Survey 2009 launched</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/260</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/260</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Click Here to take survey The Plunkett Foundation is undertaking a survey of Parish Councils across England and Wales to find out what the level of awareness is within rural communities of community-ownership approaches to rural challenges. Community-owned village shops are one example of this approach but there are many more.The Plunkett Foundation would like to see as many Chairs or appointed representatives of Parish Councils as possible responding to this quick questionnaire to give us a better understanding of what rural communities are aware of, and what they are not.This will help us to provide new services which help... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Going Back Home</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/259</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/259</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Plunkett went back to its roots with a visit to Ireland last week. Minister Tony Killeen made the invitation when he spoke at our AGM. It was a wonderful opportunity to use our standard tool of analysis of &quot;What would Horace have done&quot;?First call was Cork where Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Agency, was holding a conference on Ireland in Uncertain Times. The event provided an excellent insight into the challenges of Ireland's rural communities. The economic briefings made it clear that the impact of global recession was happening harder and faster in Ireland than in the UK by... ]]></description>
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<title>Social Enterprise Walton Lea Project receives £20,000 from the Secret Millionaire!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/254</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/254</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:56:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Walton Lea Project, a social enterprise which has been supported by the Plunkett Foundation through Strengthening Rural Communities across the North West and the Enterprise Support project of Making Local Food Work received a visit from the Secret Millionaire a few weeks ago.  On the programme broadcast today (14th October), the Walton Lea Project received £20,000 from the Secret Millionaire to help develop their work.The Walton Lea Project (WLP) was established in 1998 to provide supported employment, training and life chance for adults with learning difficulties. The project is based near Warrington within the setting of a Victorian walled... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE – GOVERNMENT BACKS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODEL FOR FARMERS’ MARKETS</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/253</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/253</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ 14 October 2009Farmers’ markets run by social enterprises should be supported due to the potential benefits they provide to communities say a new Government report on traditional retail markets.The report backed the approach taken by Making Local Food Work in helping support the development of social enterprise models of farmers’ markets as a way of providing a vehicle for producers to provide local food to their communities.The Collaborative Farmers’ Market project is part of Making Local Food Work, a programme delivered by seven national organisations which helps people to take ownership of their food and where it comes from.  The... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 02.10.09</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/251</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/251</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Weekly News is the latest roundup of news from the Plunkett Foundation and news affecting co-operatives, social enterprises, farming, food and rural development.Plunkett Weekly News 02.10.2009 Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective captures the essence of the Making Local Food Work Conference and reflects on the ‘desire to connect’ local food initiatives. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman INCREASED SUPPORT ON SKILLSHARE MENTORING PROGRAMME Skillshare is a mentoring programme from the Making Local Food Work, Specialist Enterprise Support team and is available to community owned food... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Making Local Food Work conference</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/250</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/250</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The second Making Local Food Work conference was held in Bristol last week and what an event it turned out to be. The first had sold out its 150 places in just a few days, so we took the bold step of booking a 250 place venue for the second. This sold out too with a waiting list.The main thing that I loved about the day was the wonderful variety of people there. They must have come from every aspect of the local food movement and the learning between them made the event worthwhile.The speakers didn't disappoint with Tim Crabtree... ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work - Good Food, Good Governance Training Days</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/249</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/249</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Co-operativesUK Good Food, Good Governance Team, as a partner in the Plunkett Foundation led Making Local Food Work programme, is organising further interactive training and advice workshops to help community food enterprises to operate in an accountable, efficient and democratic way.And with just three Good Food, Good Governance training days left before Christmas 2009, we wanted to send a quick reminder to ensure you don’t miss out!Over the next few months, we will be running Governance and Legal Structures training days across the country in the following cities: Sheffield – 17 November at The Circle Newcastle – 25 November... ]]></description>
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<title>The latest Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 25.09.2009</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/244</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/244</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Weekly News is a weekly roundup of the latest news from the Plunkett Foundation and news relating to co-operatives, social enterprise, farming and food rural development.Below is the Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 25 September 2009.Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective looks into the place of ‘Green Care’ within the wider role of social enterprise following Peter Couchman’s presentation at a European wide Green Care conference in Turkey. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK CONFERENCE IS A GREAT SUCCESSThe... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE: Community asset ownership programme levers £20m into the East of England</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/243</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/243</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Building Community Assets programme levered almost £20m into the East of England following support from the East of England Development Agency an independent evaluation has found.Building Community Assets was a two year capital grant programme totalling an investment of £4.9m which helped social enterprises and other third sector organisations to take ownership of land and buildings in the East of England. Eight flagship projects in total were supported with capital grants of up to £750,000 to fund the purchase and development costs of assets in order to facilitate a greater level of economic and social outcomes.Amongst the successful applicants... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog: green care and community ownership</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/242</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/242</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Fascinating trip this week to speak at a Green Care conference of academics looking at Green Care and agriculture. Green Care is a very broad church but can be defined as &quot;to use nature to produce health, social or educational benefits&quot; In the UK, this is best shown by care farms, that provide a wide range of experiences on farms to benefit people faced with such issues as addiction, learning difficulties and many more areas. You can find far more out at the National Care Farming Initiative (http://www.ncfi.org.uk/), a really inspiring organisation.Plunkett was asked to out this work in a... ]]></description>
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<title>Conference News - Making Local Food Work: Community Enterprise and the Future of Food</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/240</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/240</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Making Local Food Work: Community Enterprise and the Future of Food Conference – 30th September 2009, BristolWe look forward to seeing you at Community Enterprise and the Future of Food, the second Making Local Food Work conference.  As with the first conference in March this event is a sell out with 250 people attending which is fantastic and demonstrates the appetite for these approaches.Headline speakers at the event includeProfessor Kevin Morgan of Cardiff UniversityTim Crabtree, Director of Local Food LinksBarny Haughton of Bordeaux QuayMore about the event....The people attending the event are a mix of community food enterprises, support organisations,... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Weekly News for week ending 18.09.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/232</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/232</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Weekly News is a weekly round up of the latest news from the Plunkett Foundation and the latest co-operative social enterprise, farming and food and rural development news.Plunkett Weekly News 18.09.2009 (pdf)Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective looks at the Plunkett Foundation’s ‘Right to Try’ idea and its adoption within the Co-operative Party’s Manifesto.http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman TWO NEW COMMUNITY SHOPS CELEBRATE SUCCESS  The communities of Hindon in Wiltshire, and Freshford and Limpley stoke in Somerset had reason to celebrate this week. Both... ]]></description>
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<title>Freshford and Limpley Stoke Community-Owned Shop opens!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/231</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/231</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Two years after the last shop closed, the residents of two small villages near Bath now have a purpose-built, community-owned shop and café building developed with support from the Village CORE Programme.  The grand opening of the Galleries Shop &amp; Café, owned by the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Community Association took place on 12th September with Midge Ure, Ultravox frontman, cutting the ribbon.The closure of the two village shops, in 2004 and 2007, meant that the residents of Freshford and Limpley Stoke had to travel over three miles to reach the nearest small shop and five miles to the nearest... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Right to Try gets manifesto endorsement</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/230</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/230</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Congratulations to the Co-operative Party for becoming the first political party to adopt Plunkett's Right to Try idea in its manifesto. Whilst the Foundation is politically neutral and seeks to influence all mainstream parties, we are delighted to recognise this endorsement.Right to Try is a simple idea. All too often communities hear of the closure of a shop just as it is about to close its doors. This then creates an almost impossible task of deciding that the shop could be saved, rallying the community, setting up a new organisation, raising the funds to save the shop etc. All this... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 11.09.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/228</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/228</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Weekly news for the week ending 11 September 2009 Download (PDF)Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective reflects on the success of the recent Plunkett Foundation AGM http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman PLUNKETT FOUNDATION 90TH ANNIVERSARY SEMINAR AND AGMThe Plunkett Foundation’s 90th anniversary seminar and AGM, held at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London on 09.09.09, was a time to celebrate our past and present and set out our future direction.The event featured a range of speakers, including Graham Russell, Executive... ]]></description>
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<title>News from the Plunkett Foundation's 90th Anniversary Seminar and AGM</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/227</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/227</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation’s 90th anniversary seminar and AGM, held at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London on 09.09.09, was a time to celebrate our past and present and set out our future direction.The event began with Graham Russell, Executive Director of the Commission for Rural Communities speaking about the opportunities and challenges for rural co-operatives and social enterprises.Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, then set out his vision for the future role of the Plunkett Foundation.  This year we have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of community-owned shops opening across the UK.  Even in the most... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Plunkett AGM</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/226</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/226</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.Plunkett AGMAnnual General Meetings are often not the most inspiring events if you've helped organise them, but our AGM last week left me with a spring in my step.It wasn't just the pleasure of sharing a platform with inspiring people from Feckenham Village Shop, Community Transport Association and Thames Valley Farmers Market Co-operative. It was the sense of connecting our past with our future. It was great fun to share some of our future plans, but it was also a privilege to celebrate our Irish... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News for week ending 04.09.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/220</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/220</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The latest Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 4 September 2009 is now online. Download (pdf)Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective looks at the relationship between the work of the Plunkett Foundation and the academic world. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit       http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK - SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE SOLD OUTThe second Making Local Food Work has sold out. The conference will take place on Wednesday 30th September 2009 at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel. Titled ‘Making Local Food Work: Community Enterprise and the Future... ]]></description>
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<title>Job Vacancy - Making Local Food Work Project Manager</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/219</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/219</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Job Vacancy at Making Local Food Work - Projects Manager for Community Supported Agriculture and Organic Buying Groups projects.  For further info including a full job description http://bit.ly/1kCsc ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perepective blog - Back to College</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/218</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/218</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:54:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.Back to College...Last week saw me going back to college. Not, I hasten to add, because of the start of the new school year, but two events both held in Oxford. The International Co-operative Alliance Research Conference at Queens College, Oxford was quickly followed by the Society for Co-operative Studies Conference at Ruskin College, Oxford.Spending several days immersed in academia had me thinking about its relation to our work. It seems to me that there is great opportunity, but the challenge is finding the right... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 28.08.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/216</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/216</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The latest Plunkett Weekly News (pdf) for the week ending 04.09.2009 is now online. Plunkett Foundation NewsPLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE This week’s perspective outlines a unique approach to good customer service. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nf To follow the Plunkett Foundation on Twitter visit http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman FOLLOW MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK ON TWITTERMaking Local Food Work now has a Twitter profile.  Get the latest tweets from the world of Community Food Enterprise at http://twitter.com/janmlfw  MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK - TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SEPTEMBER CONFERENCEThe second Making Local Food Work conference will take place on Wednesday 30th September 2009 at... ]]></description>
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<title>September Making Local Food Work Newsletter now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/215</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/215</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Welcome to the September edition of the MLFW newsletterSeptember is always a busy month for the programme, as we prepare to wind up the year’s financial and impact reporting, but it also provides an opportunity to look back at what we have achieved.As the second year of MLFW draws to a close, we can already see many examples of community food enterprises supported or inspired by our work, as well as a surge in interest from the Press as people begin to understand the importance of re-connecting with food production and supply. Our message is increasing in popularity, as demonstrated... ]]></description>
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<title>Mking Local Food Work: Job Vacancies - Mapping Co-ordinators</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/214</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/214</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Food Webs and Mapping project of Making Local Food Work is recruiting two Regional Mapping Co-ordinators to manage the mapping of local food webs in the South West and West Midlands. For further information, please see http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/news/jobs.cfm ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - 24/7 service to order</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/213</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/213</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.24/7 service to order My favourite shop visit of the week was the village store that gave each of its regular volunteers a front door key. They could then come down to the store at any time, day or night, to meet their retail needs and those of their neighbours. I won't mention where in case their insurance company doesn't like the idea. Volunteers shared stories of just popping in because their neighbour had run out of coffee.I don't think that this is a model of... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - Margaret's message</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/206</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/206</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Here is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.Margaret's Message The Plunkett Foundation has, rightly, been celebrating the legacy that Sir Horace Plunkett left us in terms of his thinking on co-operatives and rural development. His 'Three Betters&quot;, Better Farming, Better Business, Better Living, still form the basis of our thinking. This means that a community is entitled to access the best possible technical solution to the problem they wish to solve, that the best model for them to come together to tackle that problem is a co-operative one and that they must remain... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 07.08.2009 is now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/205</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/205</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This week in the Plunkett Weekly News (pdf): Plunkett Foundation News-Plunkett Perspective-Follow Making Local Food Work on Twitter-New Online Network for Community-Owned Shops-Making Local Food Work Conference-Broadhempston Celebrate Their Community-Owned ShopCo-operatives and Social Enterprise News-Minister Supports Co-operative and Community Renewables-Growth Plans for Leading Social Enterprises-Unemployed Youngsters Funded to Join Social Enterprises-Community Asset Transfer Fund Established-Hardship Fund Opens for Applications-Communities Assets Enterprise 2009-Village SOS Applications – Deadline 14th August 2009Farming and Food News-Get Ready for British Food Fortnight-Defra Moots Green Labelling-Radical Rethink to UK Food Production Needed, Say DefraRural Development News-Business Centre Creates 100 Jobs Within Just Six Months-Rural Car Club Has... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News for week ending 31.07.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/203</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/203</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This week in the Plunkett Weekly News (pdf):Plunkett Foundation News-Plunkett Perspective-Follow Making Local Food Work on Twitter-Making Local Food Work Advisers Required-Making Local Food Work September ConferenceCo-operatives and Social Enterprise News-Good Deals 2009-Save Your Local Pub-Government Pledges Support for Social Enterprises-Social Enterprise Mark Isn’t Failing-And The First East Midlands Social Enterprise Mark Goes To…-Complex Calculations Reveal 62,000 UK Social Enterprises-Paul Hazen and Co-operatives Featured on Radio Show Business Matters-Social Enterprise Awards-International Co-operatives Conference to be Held in UK-Co-operatives Welcome Publication of Legislation Reform Order-Cabinet Office Adviser on Third Sector Innovation-Hardship Fund Open for Applications-Village SOS Application DeadlineFarming and Food-Organic Review Published-Welcome... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News for week ending 24.07.2009 now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/196</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/196</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This week in the Plunkett Weekly News:Plunkett Foundation News- Latest Plunkett Perspective blog – a better form of retailing- Follow Making Local Food Work on Twitter - - Village CORE Programme acknowledged in Epoch Times, New York- Plunkett first guest bloggers on Defra’s Third Sector blog- Community-ownership coverage for Plunkett in the national press- Making Local Food Work – advisers required for Community Shops and Local Food project- Making Local Food Work – tickets still available for September conferenceCo-operatives and Social Enterprise News- Village SOS applications – deadline 14th August- Hardship Fund opens for applications- OTS launches Social Investment Wholesale... ]]></description>
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<title>Follow Making Local Food Work on Twitter!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/195</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/195</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Making Local Food Work now has a Twitter profile. Get the latest tweets from the world of Community Food Enterprise at http://twitter.com/janmlfw  ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective Blog - A better form of retailing</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/194</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/194</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.A better form of retailing We've had quite a few discussions lately about how community-owned retailing will evolve. Thanks to a few new projects, there are some excellent opportunities coming up to help develop retail skills in the sector. What I find interesting is the question of whether they should simply follow the practices of the main retailers or is there a different way to develop.Visiting shops shows what the challenge is. Most shops are clear that they have to capture the emergency purchase market in their village,... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation in the news! Saturday Express article 'Open - All Ours!'</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/193</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/193</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This article focused on community-ownership featured excellent examples of rural social enterprises including two community-owned shops and a community-owned farm.To read the article, please follow the link below:http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/116261/Open-all-hours- ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Weekly News now online</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/186</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/186</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:48:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Plunkett Weekly News 17.09.2009  Below is a summary of the news for the week ending 17 July. Click on the link above to access the full Plunkett Weekly News (pdf)Plunkett Foundation News-Plunkett Perspective – Joining the Dots…-Advisers Required for Community Shops and Local Food Project-Greener TogetherCo-operatives and Social Enterprise News-Social Enterprise Magazine Launches Brand New Website-Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards 2009 Launched-Co-operative Brewery Opens Another Pub-European Project to Aid Rural Shops in Scotland-Loans ‘Help Social Enterprises to Grow Faster’Farming and Food-Dairy Farmers Protest as New MEPs Meet in Strasbourg-Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Session 2008-09-Yorkshire Farmers Launch Local Lamb Scheme-FARMA: More... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective Blog – Join the dots for social enterprise solutions</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/185</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/185</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation. One of the exciting frustrations of my work is having to live in two worlds. The first world is with the enterprises we support; a world brimming full of people with amazing ideas and with the energy to make them real. Then there is my second world, the policy world, where all too often people just don't seem to get it.The contrast between the two worlds was very obvious this week with the publication of &quot;Working Together for Older People in Rural Areas&quot; by the Social... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation’s Communities Taking Control campaign launch is a great success!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/184</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/184</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation’s Communities Taking Control campaign was launched at the Royal Show last week.  The launch was a great success with many people that we spoke to over the four days now more aware of what is possible when rural people believe in what they can achieve together.  Thank you to everyone who came to see us over the four days.                        At the Royal Show, visitors to the Communities Taking Control stand were asked to vote on what they felt was most important to take control of.  The results were:Communities Taking Control is the Plunkett Foundation’s major new... ]]></description>
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<title>Job Vacancy at the Plunkett Foundation: Communications and Media Officer</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/179</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/179</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Plunkett FoundationCommunications and Media Officer£23-25,000Woodstock, OxfordshireNow in its 90th year, the Plunkett Foundation is dedicated to supporting co-operatives and social enterprises in rural communities. Through a number of unique initiatives we help these communities create thriving places where people can enjoy living and working now and in the future. Join us as Communications and Media Officer and you will work across the Plunkett Foundation and our range of exciting projects as well as play a key role in the success of our Making Local Food Work programme. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by £10 million funding by the National Lottery through... ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work: Advisers required for Community Shops and Local Food Project</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/178</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/178</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Community Shops and Local Food is a project of Making Local Food Work which aims to help community-owned shops and village shops to stock and sell more locally produced food.  The project is led by the Plunkett Foundation and funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund.The project is looking to recruit 15 advisers to work across England. This role involves supporting community-owned shops and village shops in the sourcing, implementation and marketing of Local Food Ranges.If you are interested in applying please download the guidance documents.For further information, contact the Plunkett Foundation.Tel: 01993 814 383Email: Nicole.Hamilton@plunkett.co.ukClosing date for applications: Friday 7th August,... ]]></description>
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<title>New campaign to help rural communities to take control of the issues affecting them is launched by the Plunkett Foundation</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/176</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/176</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ An innovative new campaign that helps rural communities to take control of the issues affecting them is being launched at the Royal Show this week by the Plunkett Foundation.Communities Taking Control is the Plunkett Foundation’s major new campaign to promote to rural communities what is possible when rural people believe in what they can achieve together.  From communities owning and running essential rural services to taking control of their food and where it comes from, rural communities across the world are increasingly taking control if the issues affecting them.  The Communities Taking Control campaign will highlight the impact that communities... ]]></description>
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<title>July Making Local Food Work Newsletter now available</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/172</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/172</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Welcome to the July 2009 Making Local Food Work newsletter. You may be surprised to hear from us so soon after the last quarterly newsletter. That’s because we’ve decided that we should be updating you more frequently about the fast-moving world of local food and community enterprise. As you can see, there’s still plenty to say, but if there’s anything you’d like to see more or less of, please let us know on info@makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk. Conference DetailsOur second conference, Making Local Food Work: Community Enterprise and the Future of Food will take place on Wednesday 30th September at the Bristol Marriott... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog - A Magic Moment</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/170</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/170</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation. http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/A Magic MomentLast week was an incredibly frantic, but inspiring one. Yet despite the variety (visits to the Lake District, Oban and Co-op Congress, as well as meetings with Energy4All, Community Retailing Network and Reading University), one moment stood out.That moment came at Co-op Congress (Co-operatives 2009 in new money). Jo White from Co-operative Futures and I were running a workshop to share the launch of the Co-operative Development Network with delegates. Rather than just launch into a stand-and-deliver lecture, we asked the audience... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE: Support for rural communities looking to set up community-owned shop extended</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/161</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/161</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Further support for rural communities looking to set up and run a community-owned shop is now available following the announcement from the Plunkett Foundation that the pioneering Village CORE Programme is to be extended for a further three years.The Village CORE Programme is a support programme for rural communities looking to set up and run a community-owned rural shop.  It has supported 36 community-owned shops to open since May 2006 and a further 17 are due to open by the end of the year.  The extended programme will be able to support a further 60 communities across the next three... ]]></description>
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<title>JOB VACANCY - Project Officer, Northern England: Making Local Food Work Farmers' Markets strand</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/160</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/160</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Project Officer, Northern EnglandPart-time (3 days per week)£23-25k pro rataA £10 million Big Lottery Fund grant has given The Plunkett Foundation’s Making Local Food Work programme the potential to change lives in rural communities across the country. A groundbreaking initiative, the programme aims to increase access to healthy, local food through numerous co-operative and social enterprises. Download Job DescriptionJoin us as Project Officer for our Farmers Market strand, and you’ll provide comprehensive coordination support to Farmers Markets located between the Midlands and the Scottish border. This will include everything from booking venues and liaising with participants to delivering training workshops.... ]]></description>
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<title>SkillShare Mentoring Programme Launched by Making Local Food Work</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/146</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/146</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Skillshare is a new mentoring programme from the Making Local Food Work Specialist Enterprise Support team and is available to community food businesses in England. Our aim is to improve access to local food by supporting community businesses in the local food supply chain. Food based social enterprises can receive 16 hours FREE, practical, hands-on support and personal development in the form of experienced mentors. This support can be provided to staff, managers and board members through face-to-face contact, visits, telephone and email. Mentors are chosen from leaders of established, successful food enterprises.Mentoring Support includes:- Practical support and guidance -... ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work launches new Facebook group</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/145</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/145</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Making Local Food Work, a Big Lottery funded programme led by the Plunkett Foundation which aims to help communities take control of their food and where it comes from, has just launched a new Facebook fan page. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=47b2a8bd16afb4876d075607c2129eb2&amp;gid=87053225948&amp;ref=search#/group.php?gid=87053225948For further information on Making Local Food Work, please see www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk &#160; ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog: Dairy Farmers of Britain: A (Sir Horace) Plunkett Perspective</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/144</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/144</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation:Dairy Farmers of Britain: A (Sir Horace) Plunkett PerspectiveOne of the great tools that we have at the Plunkett Foundation is to analyse any event from the perspective of what would Sir Horace have made of it. There's no doubt that he would have had strong views about the demise of the Dairy Farmers of Britain co-operative.He would have been saddened that its passing attracted little coverage outside of the business and farming press. Saddened even more at the lack of concern for farming families... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective Blog - Showing the right things</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/140</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/140</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation .There was much to enjoy on a family trip to the Bath and West Show. One of the stand out stalls for me was the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative, OMSCO. This was for two reasons. Firstly, it didn't hide the fact that it was proud to be a co-operative.Secondly, it didn't take product awareness for granted. It SOLD the idea that people should switch to organic milk (yes, even in recession), not by a call to conscience but by laying out the benefits and then letting... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation at Forthcoming Events</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/139</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/139</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Between June and July, the Plunkett Foundation and its staff will be involved in four National Events around the country. We hope you can take the opportunity to meet with us, find out what we are doing, and share with us what issues are important to you. 16th June at Aintree Racecourse – In Business for Good - The first Regional Social Enterprise Trade Fair organised by Social Enterprise North West (SENW), in association with North West Regional Development Agency and Liverpool Vision. The Plunkett Foundation have a stand featuring case studies from the Strengthening Rural Communities across the North... ]]></description>
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<title>Ryburgh Community-Owned Rural Shop featured on BBC1’s the One Show for the launch of Village SOS</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/131</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/131</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Ryburgh Village Shop in Norfolk, one of over 200 community-owned rural shops in the UK, has been featured as a shining example of what rural communities can achieve together on Monday’s edition of the BBC1’s the One Show for the launch of Village SOS.&#160;&#160;Ryburgh Village Shop opened on 2nd March this year after support from the Plunkett Foundation.  It is one of ten community-owned rural shops to open in March and April 2009 alone and one of an estimated 40 to open during 2009.  The new shop and Post Office is located in an old granary and stocks a wide... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation features in United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Cooperative Magazine!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/130</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/130</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 15:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The May to June issue of the United States Department of Agriculture’s “Rural Cooperatives” magazine is now available online.  This edition includes a 5 page feature on the work of the Plunkett Foundation and includes a case study of Stroud Community Agriculture.You can download the issue at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/openmag.htmShould you experience any difficulties, please e-mail:dan.campbell@wdc.usda.gov. Hard copies may also be requested from this address. To subscribe using another e-mail address, or to unsubscribe, please goto:http://www.rdlist.sc.egov.usda.gov/listserv/mainservlet. ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blog entry - Faith in enterprise</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/129</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/129</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 09:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Blelow is the latest Plunkett Perspective blog entry from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.You can follow the blog at http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/.Faith in enterprise I spent a fascinating afternoon in Oxford at a conference for Church of England officials on using church buildings for community benefit. There was a real commitment there and some great examples of projects.My talk was on using church buildings (and land) for community owned enterprises, with co-operative examples from Jamaica and Ireland as well as the UK.I laid down two challenges. Firstly, don’t just see this as a property issue. Church communities have as much... ]]></description>
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<title>PRESS RELEASE - Communities see local food as the antidote to Recession</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/125</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/125</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 15:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Communities taking control of their food can save money and eat well in spite of the Recession and global price increases. That’s the message from Making Local Food Work, a Big Lottery funded programme that aims to change the way a million people buy their food. By coming together and linking directly with local producers, community members can benefit from economies of scale, the freshest produce and knowing exactly where their food comes from and how it was produced.Almondsbury Community-Owned Shop in Gloucestershire is one such example: Opened and owned by local residents, it provides a wide range of groceries... ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspectice blog - If we could bottle it</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/124</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/124</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 11:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This is the latest in a series of blogs from Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation. If we could bottle itI attended my first shop opening with Plunkett on Saturday. Mells Village Shop and Post Office in Somerset put on a magnificent show. The village turned out to see Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs open the shop. Then everyone adjourned to the village hall for a fantastic display of local producers.If ever I needed a boost to get up in the morning, it could come from Mells. There was the sheer pride (and relief) that the community had saved their... ]]></description>
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<title>Mells Community Shop opens and has grand designs for the future!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/114</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/114</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 10:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The village of Mells in Somerset celebrated the official opening of its community-owned rural shop on 9th May. The shop is a beneficiaries of the Village CORE programme, a programme involving the Plunkett Foundation which provides funding and advisory support to rural communities looking to set up and run a community-owned rural shop.  The shop was taken over by the community following the closure of the existing shop and Post Office.The ribbon was cut by Grand Designs presenter, Kevin McCloud, who spoke very encouragingly of projects that support the sustainability of rural communities. The shop itself boasts a wide range of goods,... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation on Facebook and Twitter</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/106</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/106</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 16:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ You can now follow the Plunkett Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.Become a fan of Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79687818921&amp;ref=nfFollow Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, on Twitter - http://twitter.com/PeterCouchman ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation's work with promoting and supporting community-owned rural shops features in the new Defra Third Sector blog</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/105</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/105</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 16:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ View the blog entry online at http://blogs.defra.gov.uk/3rd-sector/2009/05/community-owned-shops-third-sector-steps-in-where-the-private-sector-struggles/The blog can be followed online at http://blogs.defra.gov.uk/3rd-sector/ ]]></description>
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<title>Latest Plunkett Perspective blogs</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/104</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/104</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 16:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Below are the latest additions to the Plunkett Perspective, a new blog by Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation.  You can follow the blog at http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/Monday 4th May 2009Recession BustersFeckenham Village ShopThe news that community owned village shops are opening at a recession busting rate of five a month for the last two months is starting to attract attention. This going up the down escalator achievement has been covered not only by the such newspapers as The Times. The Guardian and The People (including editorial) but was featured on Defra's website thanks to Simon Berry's excellent blog.The real... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation in the news</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/103</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/103</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 16:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Times Online - ‘Social enterprises gain by adding experience to the mix’The Plunkett Foundation was featured in a recent Times Online article based on research undertaken in 2004.  The full article is available from the link: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/related_reports/social_entrepreneurs/article6161197.eceThe research report ‘Rural Lifelines – Older people and Rural Social Enterprise: Their role as providers and beneficiaries of service provision in rural England’ is available from http://www.plunkett.co.uk/templates/asset-relay.cfm?frmAssetFileID=137 ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation's Chief Executive launches new blog</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/97</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/97</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Peter Couchman, who joined the Plunkett Foundation on Monday 20th April has set up a new blog, the Plunkett Perspective.Click on the link below to follow the latest news and views relating to the Plunkett Foundation and rural co-operative and social enterprise in both the UK and internationally.http://www.plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/ ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation announces new Chief Executive</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/86</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/86</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation is pleased to announce that Peter Couchman will become the organisation’s Chief Executive on 20th April.  His appointment was made by the Foundation’s trustee board following an open competition.   &#160;The Plunkett Foundation is the organisation which promotes and supports co-operative and social enterprises in rural communities both in the UK and internationally.  It provides support, networks and knowledge which offers practical solutions for rural communities that helps to create thriving places where people live and work now and in the future.  The Plunkett Foundation is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2009.&#160;Peter is joining the Plunkett Foundation from... ]]></description>
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<title>Changing the food system from the bottom up</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/87</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/87</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Social enterprises rooted in communities can change food systems from the bottom up – this was the message from delegates at Communities Taking Control, the first in a series of conferences held by the Making Local Food Work programme.  The Making Local Food Work initiative is funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces Programme, which aims to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments.The sell-out conference, which took place on 30 March in Birmingham, brought together a wide range of individuals and organisations – from those involved in running local food community enterprises to policy makers, academics and... ]]></description>
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<title>Major Milestone Reached as the 200th Community-owned Rural Shop in the UK Opens for Business</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/80</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/80</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The community of Ide in Devon have a great deal to celebrate this month. Faced with the closure of their only village shop, they’ve just opened a community-owned rural shop – the 200th in Britain. Ide joins the growing number of rural communities throughout the country – eight in March and April alone – that are setting up their own shops to ensure that their communities have access to this most vital of rural services. For the past few years Ide, a small rural community south west of Exeter, has only had one shop. Sadly, as is the case in... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation in the news!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/74</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/74</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This weekend the Plunkett Foundation was featured in two major articles in the Saturday Guardian and Sunday Times.Read them online by following the links below:Sunday Times: That’s the community spirit - http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5948613.eceSaturday Guardian: Rural communities fight back against the closure of local services - http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/mar/21/rural-communities-buyout ]]></description>
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<title>Press Release: Communities flock to local food conference </title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/73</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/73</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Representatives from communities up and down the country will meet at Birmingham’s Aston University on 30th March for the first Making Local Food Work conference: communities taking control. The event, which sold out within days, will focus on how communities can take back control of where their food comes from.  150 delegates will hear Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association talk about the future of food in the UK, as well as learning from the experts about the different ways in which they can re-engage with how and where their food is produced. Far from being a passive audience,... ]]></description>
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<title>Community-owned rural shops provide hope in challenging times for retailers</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/67</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/67</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This month sees the opening of an unprecedented number of community-owned rural shops with three opening in March alone. These are among 60 community-owned rural shops that will receive funding and specialist support under the Plunkett Foundation’s hugely successful Village CORE Programme. The success of the Village CORE Programme comes at a time when headlines are being dominated by news of the closure of some of the most famous names on the high street. The fact that community-owned rural shops are opening at an increasing rate, even in the current economic climate, demonstrates what is possible with the right support... ]]></description>
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<title>Another success for the Village CORE Programme as Ryburgh Village Stores opens!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/62</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/62</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ On 2nd March, Ryburgh Village Stores was opened in Great Ryburgh, Norfolk by Norman Lamb MP.  Not only does the shop provide a shop, it also provides a post office and a café.Mr Lamb said: “I think this is a wonderful beacon of light in quite troubled times. They have demonstrated a whole community coming together and what can be done by that.”Ryburgh Village Stores is the latest rural community-owned shop to open that has been supported by the Village CORE Programme.Ryburgh Village Stores is one of over 190 community-owned rural shops in the UK and this number is growing... ]]></description>
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<title>Berrynarbor Community-Owned Rural Shop in National Awards Success</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/61</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/61</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation is pleased to announce that a community-owned rural shop supported by its hugely successful Village CORE Programme has won a coveted award for best village shop and post office in the South West of England.  Berrynarbor is a small village located on the North Devon coast. In 2004 the community faced the prospect of losing the village shop and post office when the postmaster retired. Residents decided to take action and formed a co-operative to save the shop. As Alex Parke, of Berrynarbor Community Shop and Post Office explains, the shop and post office are “one of... ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work - Announcing Skillshare!</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/50</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/50</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A new mentoring programme from the Making Local Food Work, Specialist Enterprise Support team is available to community food businesses in England.  Food based social enterprises can receive 16 hours FREE practical hands-on support from mentors chosen as leaders from similar successful food enterprises.  Experienced members or managers of food based social enterprises may be interested in becoming a mentor.If you’re unsure whether Skillshare is right for you and want to discuss things further, please feel free to contact us direct: Richard Snow, Enterprise Support, Making Local Food Work, Plunkett Foundation.Tel: 01993 814388, Email: richard.snow@plunkett.co.uk http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/news/news.cfm/newsid/41 ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work: Communities taking Control - Conference Fully Booked</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/49</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/49</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:32:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Making Local Food Work conference taking place on 30th March is now fully booked.  Due to the extremely positive reaction and high demand for places, Making Local Food Work is currently looking at dates and venues for a second event in the late summer.  If you are interested in attending this event, please register your interest by emailing info@makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk or sign up to the Making Local Food Work newsletter to be the first to hear when details are released.http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/ ]]></description>
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<title>Making Local Food Work: Communities Taking Control - Monday 30th March 2009 - Aston University Business Centre, Birmingham</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/43</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/43</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Put this date in your diary for the first Making Local Food Work annual conference. Making Local Food Work is an initiative managed by the Plunkett Foundation and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Exploring community enterprise approaches to connecting land and people through food, the programme aims to increase access to fresh, healthy, local food with clear, traceable origins.  The conference will include the best speakers, most inspiring case studies and most innovating workshops relating to local food and community enterprise.  Look out for further information over coming weeks in the Plunkett Weekly News and on the Making Local Food Work website.http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/... ]]></description>
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<title>Fresh Ideas - Rural Social Enterprise launched</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/32</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/32</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Fresh Ideas – Rural Social Enterprise was launched at Enterprise for Empowerment.  Fresh Ideas, the second in a series of publications from the Plunkett Foundation and Social Enterprise Magazine, was launched by Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for the Third Sector, at the conference via video message.  Fresh Ideas includes articles on the Plunkett Foundation’s global vision, rural health and social enterprise, community-owned shops and multipurpose centres alongside features on the Plunkett Foundation’s work in the North West and with local food community enterprises.  Fresh Ideas will be distributed with the December edition of Social Enterprise Magazine and is also available... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation launches two inspiring new films</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/31</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/31</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ At Enterprise for Empowerment, the Plunkett Foundation featured the first public viewings of their two inspiring new films.  The first film features the Plunkett Foundation’s work in supporting community-owned shops in the UK.  With the film being based around a case study of Tackley ‘All-in-One’ Centre in Oxfordshire, you hear from those involved in setting up the shop and also from members of the community which have benefited from the services offered.  The second film is based around the Plunkett Foundation’s work in supporting rural social enterprises in the North West through Strengthening Rural Communities across the North West, a... ]]></description>
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<title>Strengthening Rural Communities - Information, Advice and Support Guide launched</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/30</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/30</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ David Hunter, Head of Rural Affairs at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, launched the Plunkett Foundation’s new guide, Strengthening Rural Communities – Information, Advice and Support (3MB), at Enterprise for Empowerment at Enterprise for Empowerment.  The guide focuses on the broad range of advice that many rural social enterprises need when they are first starting up or looking to diversify and features case studies of rural social enterprises supported through the programme.  The guide is available with a copy of the Strengthening Rural Communities across the North West film from the Plunkett Foundation by emailing info@plunkett.co.uk or by calling 01993 810730.... ]]></description>
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<title>Blockley Village Shop and Café features on Sky News and in the Guardian</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/29</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/29</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Blockley Village Shop and Café in Gloucestershire opened in May this year.  It is one of over 180 community-owned rural shops in the UK.  Blockley Village Shop and Café received support from the Village CORE Programme, an initiative run by the Plunkett Foundation in partnership with Co-operative and Community Finance and the Esmèe Fairbairn Foundation which supports communities looking to set up and run a community-owned village shop.  The story of how the shop and café was developed has recently been featured on Sky News (see link below) and in the Guardian.http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Blockley-Village-Shop-Cotswolds-Community-Launches-Cooperative-In-Struggling-Village/Article/200812115173606?lpos=UK_News_Article_Body_Copy_Region_0&amp;lid=ARTICLE_15173606_Blockley_Village_Shop%3A_Cotswolds_Community_Launches_Cooperative_In_Struggling_Villagehttp://www.plunkett.co.uk/whatwedo/rcs/shopdirectory.cfm/shop/345 ]]></description>
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<title>Enterprise for Empowerment - Rural Social Enterprise Conference 2008</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/28</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/28</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Thank you to all those who attended Enterprise for Empowerment, the eighth Plunkett Foundation Rural Social Enterprise Conference.From community transport picking delegates up from Crewe Railway Station to rural social enterprises providing food for the conference dinner and even the wine, Enterprise for Empowerment showcased the very best of rural social enterprise throughout the two day event.Presentations from the event and a conference report will be made available online shortly. ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation survey of the credit crunch and the current economic turmoil on rural social enterprises</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/24</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/24</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Plunkett Foundation would like to know more about the impact of the 'credit crunch' and the current economic turmoil on Rural Social Enterprises. Rural Social Enterprises are social enterprises which are either based in a rural area or their main beneficiary group is located in a rural area. The Plunkett Foundation is a strategic partner of the Office of the Third Sector with a specific remit for representing the voice of rural social enterprises and the particular challenges that they face. This will be the first of a number of short surveys on specific issues impacting upon rural social... ]]></description>
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<title>Plunkett Foundation to launch two inspiring new films and a new website to celebrate Social Enterprise Day</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/23</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/23</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Social Enterprise Day is taking place on 20th November as part of Enterprise Week.  To celebrate Social Enterprise Day, the Plunkett Foundation will be launching two inspiring new films which demonstrate the impact of social enterprises on the rural communities in which they are based.A film has been produced which features the Plunkett Foundation’s work to support the development of community-owned shops in rural communities.  The film, based around a case study of Tackley ‘All-in-One’ Centre in Oxfordshire, demonstrates the wide ranging impact that a community-owned and managed shop has on a rural community.A film has also been produced to... ]]></description>
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<title>Six community-owned shops announced as regional finalists of the Countryside Alliance Awards 2008</title>
<link>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/17</link>
<guid>http://www.plunkett.co.uk/newsandmedia/news-item.cfm/newsid/17</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Regional finalists have this week been announced for the Countryside Alliance Awards 2008.  Six community-owned rural shops have been announced as finalists along with social enterprises the Moody Baker Co-operative and Growing with Grace Farm Shop.  The six shops which have been nominated are Hambleton Village Shop and Post Office (South East), Allendale Co-operative Society (North East), Burton in Lonsdale Village Shop (Yorkshire), Maiden Bradley Village Shop (Wessex), Berrynarbor Community Shop (South West) and Leafield Village Community Shop (South of England).  The Plunkett Foundation congratulates all of the community-owned rural shops and rural social enterprises who have been announced as... ]]></description>
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