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 “The rise of the Archers’ co-operative.”
This progress was not, thankfully, confned to the world of fction. We saw more shops open than in any previous year. We saw this support broadening out to other forms of rural social enterprise, including pubs. Community food enterprises became stronger in numbers and achievements, sending the message that community engagement is one of the building blocks of any future food strategy.
It was a year that was not without its challenges. Not wanting to turn the increasing number of communities turning to Plunkett away, we often had to use our own resources to give support that should have been funded elsewhere. We launched “The Right to Try” to highlight the barriers that often stand in the way of communities on the path to creating sustainable community-owned enterprises. Plunkett champions these needs across Government and looks forward to working with the new coalition government to take forward many of the issues they have raised.
None of this would have been possible without the support of partners and supporters too numerous to mention. Our grateful thanks go to each and every one of you.
Peter Couchman, Chief Executive