What is a Community Shop?

A Community shop is set up by local residents and trades for the benefit of the Community. Typically, there is a membership scheme in place which means members buy shares giving them a vote at each AGM (shares are priced affordably and each member only has 1 vote irrespective of the size of their financial investment). The shares do not offer financial reward but are a social investment into your community.

What is a social investment?

The meaning of this will vary from person to person but will include things like: having the convenience of a shop you can access without a car; helping provide employment and volunteering opportunities for residents; somewhere for the children to pop to; a social meeting place; regular contact with people for those who may not otherwise see anyone; links to other local enterprises enhancing the village community.

Who will run the shop?

The shop will be managed by a Shop Committee made up of local volunteers who oversee the running of the shop. They ensure all the legal and financial duties are met, employ staff and recruit volunteers, gather feedback from locals, make changes to the shop, and promote links with other local enterprises.

A Community shop offers local employment opportunities; typically employing a paid Manager to ensure effective management of the shop and, where possible, there may be other paid members of staff. The Manager will manage a team of local volunteers who will bring with them a range of skills and vibrancy to the shop. Local volunteers can really help make the shop feel managed by the Community – this is the core of a Community shop. Run by you for you: Your village, your shop.

Why is this good for the village?

A local community shop can play a huge role in improving peoples’ well-being and mental health. Those who are vulnerable, elderly, isolated, a new parent, or unemployed are perhaps more likely to be able to access a local shop. A shop can offer the opportunity for regular exercise or regularly getting out of the house, meeting up with others or simply having social contact with those volunteering in the shop. It is much more than a place to buy provisions. Whilst there are lots of activities in the village, for some these may not be appropriate, or they may feel too anxious or overwhelmed to attend; whereas the ordinary activity of going to the shop for milk can offer so much more.

A local shop can offer support for those isolating during Covid19 and lockdown restrictions by offering deliveries or ‘order and collect’ services and, unlike the supermarkets, offering a personal connection during these challenging times.

A community shop can create a stronger feeling of community, a coming together from which other social activities can be inspired.

Profits are reinvested into the shop to ensure the property and services are maintained for the community. If there are additional profits these can be invested into other local community projects.

Local Community shops can also help support other local businesses (by stocking their produce or through joint ventures etc) and help reduce our carbon footprint. Stocking local produce means fewer food miles. Customers who can access the shop without a car and, those who need to drive having a shorter journey all goes towards reducing emissions. A shop also enhances the village, not just for the community, but also for any tourist trade and new residents looking to move to the area.