Funded Support
The Village Core Programme is a support programme for communities looking to set up and run a community owned rural shop.
The programme provides advisory support, along with a funding package of up to £40,000 comprising of a grant of between £10,000 and £20,000 matched by a loan of at least equal value. This grant is also matched by money raised by the village community.
The Look for Local Scheme is part of Making Local Food Work (a 5 year project managed by the Plunkett Foundation) and is free of charge to community-owned shops. It aims to support shops to develop and expand their range of local food, as well raising the profile of the shop and local food and to develop links between local producers and rural shops.
We have completed a successful pilot phase and we are now rolling out the programme to all community-owned shops.
The scheme offers support to shops in the following way:
- Up to 3 days 1:1 dedicated adviser support (including display and merchandising sessions)
- The Look for Local Guide
- Branded Look for Local Point of Sale material
- Marketing support in launching your local food ranges
Participation on the scheme also enables your shop, volunteers and committee to access other areas of support offered via Making Local Food Work
Could you engage your members and customers to take action on climate change?
If so, we want to hear from you
The Plunkett Foundation, Co-operativesUK and the Confederation of Co-operative Housing want to encourage individuals to pledge to take action to reduce their environmental impact in three key areas: energy, waste and personal transport. We need the help of community owned shops like yours.
The Bigger Picture
The climate threat is worse than many experts predicted just a few years ago. We all need to act now to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, while we still have a chance to make a difference.
Lets get Greener Together
We want to hear from community owned shops that could engage their members and customers to adopt new, pro-environment behaviours. It's important to note that the emphasis of the project is on behavioural change. That doesn't mean that the participating members and customers shouldn't install energy saving measures, but what we're looking for is evidence of changing individual behaviour in energy, waste and personal transport. We'll also be asking each participating organisation to take one collective action.
Many of you are already doing great things to help live in a more sustainable way. Why not take one more step with us and help demonstrate just what a significant impact community owned shops can make?
How it works
You will receive a package of support, including easy-to-follow guidance, promotional materials, the dedicated services of the Greener Together project manager. Participating shops will also receive financial support – up to £2,000 per shop.
All community shops will have access to information disseminated by the project, but we are looking for ten organisations that are committed to finding a voluntary eco-operator who will lead the project in their community; these ten organisations will receive the financial support.
For details of how to apply visit the Greener Together
website www.greenertogether.coop
Working together we can make a difference.
For more information, contact Donna Smith at the Plunkett Foundation:
T: 01993 810730 E: donna.smith@plunkett.co.uk W: www.greenertogether.coop
If you are a community or charitable organisation looking to extend your work through the use of the internet and ICT apply for an award from BT. Their award scheme enables groups to get online and make use of information and communication technology with a laptop and a year's free broadband connection.
If you are working for community benefit and would like to find out more visit www.btconnections.com or call 0845 257 6792 . The next round of applications must be submitted by 5th January (postal) or 7th January (online).
Increasingly, rural areas are looking at providing practical services to their community by utilising the local church building. There are examples of farmer's markets, community shops (Yarpole in Herefordshire) and Post Offices being based in faith buildings. If you think there is potential within your community to provide another community service through your local church have a look at the Church and Community Fund website for inspiration and guidance on the support available.
http://www.churchandcommunityfund.org.uk/about_us.html
If you are looking for additional sources of funding, have a look through our useful resouces page. This lists possible funding programmes as well as additional advisory support.
