The Whiteshill and Ruscombe Community Shop is housed in a refurbished
Portakabin perched on the edge of the Cotswolds near Stroud,
with some of the best views in Gloucestershire.
It
opens seven days a week (half day on Sunday) and is entirely
staffed by volunteers, mainly retired people or mothers with
children at school. In addition to stocking groceries, the shop
offers newspapers, video rentals, local crafts and a family
friendly coffee shop. Health and safety requirements demanded
a loo, so a second-hand disabled-access portaloo also has pride
of place on the site.
The
Challenge
Like
many rural communities, Whiteshill near Stroud suffered the
loss of its last two small shops, a primary school threatened
with closure and a post office barely holding its own.
 |
| The
shop is run by volunteers from the local community |
Developing
the idea
Marie
Lee, one of the founders of the shop, explained the background:
"We were aware that a shop serving the community was not a viable
proposition, but we were convinced that people needed a local
outlet, especially those without cars, the elderly and young
mums.
"In
the early summer of 1997, at the Street Fair, we carried out
a survey to find out what support there would be for a community
shop and we were overwhelmed by the response."
Stroud
District Council put them in touch with the Village Retail Services
Association (ViRSA), the national organisation dedicated to
preserving and setting up village shops and post offices. With
the help of a VIRSA field worker a small action group developed
a plan.
Making
it happen
Fund-raising
started in earnest with the action group literally going around
the community, door to door. More than £6,000 in loans was raised
in the community, Stroud District Council gave £5,000 and Whiteshill
and Ruscombe Parish Council donated another £1,000.
A
formal management committee was then set up with a constitution,
a chair, treasurer and secretary and the inaugural meeting included
representatives from a wide range of community interests including
the local LETS and Credit Union schemes.
It
was decided that the ideal site would be next to the playing
fields and car park, but planning permission would be required.
Then the hunt was on for a cabin to place on the steeply sloping
site.
Marie
said: "Eventually someone said they knew of one at a Gloucester
school. The school didn't want anything for it, but we had to
pay to get it transported to the site and then lowered by crane.
Again, local contacts made that happen at half the normal cost."
A
small group consisting of a local builder and a couple of local
retired people then transformed the outside of the battered
old terrapin to suit its new life. As for the inside, heaters
were donated, as was crockery and cutlery for the cafe. The
Co-op and Sainsbury's were contacted for permission to stock
their brands, and the shop became a reality.
Keeping
it going
"Just
over two years after opening, we were able to pay back all the
loans!" says Marie. "Our main challenge now is maintaining the
number of volunteers to run the shop - we're down to a stalwart
band of 15 people who keep it going.
"WeÃre
always looking for more people - we only ask for two hours of
their time per week, but it is best if they can commit to that
on a weekly basis."
Key
tips
- Carry out a community survey to assess potential support,
both for fundraising and for volunteers
- Use local contacts to keep costs down, builders, electricians
- Be adventurous when selecting accommodation and a site
Contact: Whiteshill and Ruscombe
Community Shop: 01453 766277
Who
can help?
The
following funding sources and other helpful organisations have
been of particular use to this project. Their details can be
found in the Contacts Directory.
Further information on funding sources is available from Gloucestershire
County Council's Economic Development Unit on 01452 425702.
Funding
sources
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Other useful contacts
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-
-
District
and parish councils
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-
- District
Councils
-
Gloucestershire County Council - Trading Standards
-
Gloucestershire Food Links
- Gloucestershire
Rural Community Council
- Health
and Safety Executive
- Parish
Councils
- Village
Retail Services Association (VIRSA)
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