For the first time in 15 years the 400 residents of Beech Hill, Berkshire, have a local shop and it’s in an unusual venue – the church. A loan from the Co-operative Loan Fund was used to fit bespoke wooden cabinets, made by a local carpenter, in St Mary’s church which hide the stock and […]
Residents from a village near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, are breathing new life into an old building, by fitting it out for a community‐owned shop which will open next month. The last shop in the village closed three years ago, and the building has stood empty since then. The landlord has leased the building to the The […]
The Co-operative Loan Fund has made many loans to community-owned shops throughout the country, and we are very pleased to announce our first loan to a community-owned pub, The Butchers Arms in Cumbria. Money from The Co-operative Loan Fund, along with support from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, and the rallying of 300 villagers who raised […]
Mica DIY is a co-operative of retailers which provides marketing, joint buying, store development and training for its members. It offers them a support structure, while maintaining their independence. The organisation was previously a 60% member-owned business, called Mica UK Ltd. A victim of the recession, Mica UK went into administration in 2009. Board members […]
‘The shop at Strood Green’ is a community-owned shop based in Betchworth, Surrey which was established following the closure of its local Post Office. In the space of nine months, the community raised over £80,000 to fund a local village shop and since opening in March 2009, the store already has a turnover of more […]