Motcombe Community Shop in Dorset is celebrating winning a prestigious award this week that recognizes not only the contribution it makes to the community but its success as a small business in the current climate.
Pictured left to right are: Martin Lee, Kay Francis, Anne Galloway, and Arabella Hickman with son Harry
Not only was Motcombe selected as winner of the Small Business Award in the inaugural Blackmore Vale Media Business Awards, but it also celebrated two years trading this weekend as part of Community Shops Fortnight.
Relocating for the day on Saturday 30th June to Memorial Hall Recreation Field for the Village Fete, the shop promoted a wide range of local food and offered a meeting place for its army of wonderful willing volunteers with some entertaining games for the children. As Scott Jackson, Chairman of the shop committee remarked: “We are hoping to entice a few more customers into the shop by bringing the shop to them; we are proud of what we have achieved and want everyone to share in our success!”
Motcombe’s celebrations took place during Community Shops Fortnight, a nationwide campaign organised by Plunkett Foundation, the national body for supporting community-owned shops and other rural services, to celebrate the 280 community shops now in existence.
Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of Plunkett Foundation, says: “In a climate that has seen commercial village shops close at a rate of around 400 per year, 280 communities have rallied round and saved their shop from closure, reopening it under community ownership. Community Shops Fortnight is about celebrating that achievement, but also the fact that these communities have gone on to build a committed team and engage with everyone in their village to keep their shop up and running, delivering a vital community service day in, day out.
“In celebration of this achievement, Plunkett Foundation is launching Community Shops Fortnight, which will mark the hard work, commitment and pride that ensures a community-owned shop succeeds long after the excitement of open day celebrations has passed.”
For further information please contact Martin Lee, Secretary Motcombe Community Shop tel: 01747 852 273 mhlee22@talktalk.net.
To keep up with the latest news from community shops over the Community Shops Fortnight visit our blog: http://communityshopsfortnight.wordpress.com/