Plunkett Foundation News

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...