{"id":12514,"date":"2019-11-28T12:58:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T12:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/?post_type=blog_post&p=12514"},"modified":"2021-07-30T14:02:55","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T13:02:55","slug":"round-applause-rural-community-business-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.powertochange.org.uk\/news\/round-applause-rural-community-business-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"A round of applause for the rural community business heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rural communities face their own set of unique challenges. Smaller populations, fewer amenities and transport issues can leave residents of rural towns and villages feeling cut off and isolated with fewer opportunities for social interaction, employment and trade.<\/p>\n
These rural areas may be small in population, but they\u2019re big in community power.<\/p>\n
Now in its centenary year, the Plunkett Foundation has supported almost 600 rural community businesses to reach trading stage across the UK, bringing with them the development and safeguarding of valuable assets and services to communities up and down the country.<\/p>\n
Since 2013, the Rural Community Business Awards have celebrated the achievements of rural community businesses across the UK across seven categories, marking those community businesses that are amongst the most inspiring in the sector. The awards were presented in partnership with Power to Change, sponsored by Hastoe Housing Association.<\/p>\n
At the awards ceremony at Burlington House, the Plunkett Foundation announced Halstock Village Shop as its Centenary Community Business<\/strong>, sponsored by Power to Change. Halstock Village Shop opened its doors in 1991 following the loss of facilities in Yeovil. As many other community businesses started out, Halstock Village Shop was the result of a group of residents banding together to provide a community owned shop that would also offer community facilities.<\/p>\n 28 years later and the shop is still thriving, with three management staff members and a fleet of up to 20 volunteers. Their new building now features two flats which help to fund the Halstock Village Trust, which changes the lives of residents by giving out grants to local groups and organisations.<\/p>\n