Funding for Community Shops (England)

The Village Retail Services Association in partnership with Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance have announced the launch of the Village Core programme which will provide £2 million of startup funding to new Community owned shops in rural areas of England.

The funding which will be available over the next three years will provide up to £40,000 per shop. This will be made up of a mix of grant and loan funding, as well as advice from the Village Retail Services Association.

Eligible applicants will include community based organisations located in rural communities of not less than 200 residents. Applications for assistance can be submitted at any time up to and including the 30th July 2009.

More information is available on the VIRSA website

Store is the Core is an advisory and grant programme designed to help sustain existing village shops and to encourage the development of community owned shops in the South West of England. Store is the Core supports 2 programmes – Village Shop Programme and Community Owned Start Up Programme.