Bledington Community Shop Limited
Bledington Shop and Cafe is a community owned enterprise. It operates as a business, but trades primarily for community benefit. The venture is currently owned by over 300 members who bought shares. All members have an equal say in how the business is run, regardless of their investment.
Bledington Community Shop Limited is a community-owned Registered Society, for the benefit of the community (the Society) with a constitution developed by Plunkett Foundation - a charitable organisation that supports community shops in the UK.
The Society is run by a management committee elected annually at an Annual Members Meeting. It is run democratically and the management committee is appointed on a one member one vote system regardless of the level of investment of members. Any member can stand for election and we encourage anyone who wants to play an active part in the management of the shop to stand.
Surplus funds, over those needed to develop the Shop and Cafe are distributed within the community to support community projects.
Useful Information
Become a Member
BCSL is owned by its members. 300+ of us are shareholders. We encourage everyone locally to become a member.
Download membership application
Open an Account
With a pre-paid account, you will find shopping more convenient and easier.
Download account sign-up
Society Rules
You can review our Model Rules here
Download society rules
About the Society
Hear about our CPRE Awards
We are Supported by
Susanna Peake Charitable Trust
Summerfield Trust
Charlotte Heber-Percy Charitable Trust
And 300+ generous
residents of Bledington
Bledington Community Shop Ltd has been supported by the Cotswolds LEADER Programme towards the construction of a new community shop and cafe at Middle Orchard, Bledington.
It is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
History of Bledington Community Shop
Bledington had a village shop which closed in 2007. Residents faced a lengthy round trip to the nearest shops, and the village became isolating for many. The social hub of village life had gone and was sorely missed.
After nearly ten years of tireless hard work, the Bledington Shop Committee and scores of village volunteers worked towards the opening of Bledington Community Shop and Cafe - a new hub to our community.
Bledington Shop and Cafe opened November 2019 and has been trading successfully, supporting our community ever since.
The shop has grown, has attracted more customers and is now a true centre of the village and local community.
We continue to innovate, to involve as many people in the village as possible, and to be a lifeline for this rural community.
Following four years of successful trading, in 2024 the shop embarked on an building programme to grow the shop space by a third.
If you are not yet a customer, a member of the society or a volunteer, then please get involved today.
Bledington
Community Shop Limited
Registered by the Financial Conduct Authority:
31287R
Registered Office:
Bledington Community Shop
Church Lane
Bledington
OX7 6XB
Bledington and Foscot Community Association Ltd
Registered Charity Number:
1155942
Registered Office:
Bledington Community Shop
Church Lane
Bledington
OX7 6XB
