1. Coddenham Shop A future in the community
Coddenham Community Shop Steering Group

2. The Shop in Coddenham – Since the 17th Century!
Successful and thriving village store
Developed as “the village hub”
Supporting local producers and suppliers
Wide range of services
Post office, coffee shop, off-licence, Police surgery, dry cleaning, parcel drop off, ticket sales, plant sales, newspapers, a chat
Leaseholders, Jane and Julia moving on

3. Who we are and the story so far
Steering Group
Rod Stanley-Bell, David McDonnell, Tim Thomas, Elaine Thomas
Supporting Roy and Ann Gudgin in search for commercial tenant
Community shop feasibility
Village survey
Working with the Plunkett Foundation
Legal frameworks and funding opportunities
Talked to a lot of people!

4. Village Survey Results
If no other option, would you support the idea of a community shop in principle?
How important do you think it is to have a shop as a village facility?

5. Village Survey Results
Would you be willing to help in any of the following ways?
Helping set up shop/being on committee – 24
Working in shop as volunteer – 39
Paid manager – 5
Help with accountancy/legal etc – 5
Other - 14
How often do you think you would use the shop?

6. Village Survey Results
On average, how much money do you, or are you likely to spend in the shop/cafe each week?
The shop is crucial to this part of the village. It is convenient and it provides a focus and meeting point. Without it the village would be little more than a random collection of housing. Its specialities (cheese, coffee) are also important.
Our shop is the heart and soul of our village and provides us with a wide variety of goods and products. It is well used by many of us in and out of the village and if you don't or can't drive it is a Godsend.
The village shop is an integral part of the community……. It is essential that it (or something very like it) continues to be at the heart of the village - it's not just somewhere to get the milk, but a real focus for the village - and more people need to use it.
 It would be sad to not have a shop in Coddenham as it provides a service for the elderly and a post office which are getting harder to find in rural villages.

7. Mission – Evolution (and a bit of a) Revolution
Establish a community-owned shop
Key focal point for whole village
Maintain current shop services
Expanded range
Community hub for the village
Expanded coffee shop
Involve local people
Extensively and widely

8. Value to you and the community
Why the shop?
No school, no pub – major loss to community
Why a Community Shop?
Run to meet local needs
Successful and sustainable– 90% in business after 5 years
Environment and eco-system
Better access to local produce
Supporting local enterprises
Supporting house prices
Could cost you thousands!

9. Alan Collard

10. Plunkett Foundation & Community Shops
The Plunkett Foundation
Leading voice for community business support in the UK since 1919
Community Shops – a good idea?
Community shops respond to key challenges facing rural communities
Last 5 years – average of 22 shops per year opened under community ownership.
Engage large numbers of the community
Typical number of members involved 177
Typical number of volunteers involved 30
Become the hub of the community
59% host post offices
43% have cafes
A resilient form of business:
Average turnover £161,000
Success rate of community shops 94%
Average small business success rate 46%

11. Supporting the Coddenham Community Shop Steering Group
Alan Collard and team - Supporting the Steering Group
Expert knowledge, experience and advice for setting up and running community shops
Initial business scoping and planning
Setting up of the Community Benefit Society
Modelling the community share process
Facilitating work with other community shops
Range of other support for members

12. Business Plan – Will it work?
Outline Profit & Loss
Start up costs

13. The way forward Premises Suppliers Target Markets
Secure a long-term lease on the shop premises
Suppliers
Maintain current set
Expand ranges gradually
Target Markets
Coddenham – the whole village
Surrounding villages
Passing trade
Structure and Governance
Community Benefit Society
Fundraising
Start – up cost £35,000
Shop operations and management
Paid manager and volunteers

14. Funding, Structure & Governance
Community Benefit Society (CBS)
Local and national grants available
Community Share Issue
Shares priced at £50
Potential 50% tax relief on investment
A vote and a say in the affairs of the shop
Committee of members to oversee
Any surplus for benefit of the community
Significant progress on share purchases pledged!

15. Shop Operations & Management
Paid shop manager
Oversee overall operation
Pool of volunteers
Regular, active commitment
Maintain existing suppliers
Efficiency and expansion
Outreach Post Office
Will continue
Coffee shop facilities expanded
Light lunches and snacks

16. We REALLY need YOU and your SUPPORT
Aim to re-open the shop by end July
To achieve this we need solid support from the village
Share purchase pledges
Donations
Confirmed volunteers – at least 30
Committee members
People to use the shop – often, regularly
People to spread the word beyond the village

17. NO SUPPORT MEANS NO SHOP!

18. Next steps Register Community Benefit Society
Apply for Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme Advance Assurance
Open Bank Account
Apply for Grants
Issue Prospectus
Collect Cash
Finalise Lease
Appoint Manager
Re-furbish and re-stock shop
Open Shop!

19. Questions? Rod Stanley – Bell David McDonnell Tim Thomas Elaine Thomas
Alan Collard – Plunkett Foundation

20. Thank You