Bledington Community Shop Limited
Bledington Shop and Café is run as a community owned enterprise. It operates as a business, but trades primarily for community benefit. The venture is currently owned by over 330 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 for use by community shops. Plunkett are a charitable organisation whose purpose is to support and encourage community shops in the UK.
The Society is run by a management committee elected annually at an Annual Members Meeting. The Society 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 would 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, will be distributed to the community to support community projects.
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 café at Middle Orchard, Bledington.
It is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
History
With the closure of our Village Shop in 2007, Bledington was left without a store for the first time in living memory. Residents faced a lengthy round trip to the nearest shops, and the village became isolating for many, particularly the elderly and those living alone. The social hub of village life had gone and was sorely missed.
After nearly ten years of determined and tireless hard work, the Bledington Shop Committee and scores of village volunteers worked towards the opening of Bledington Community Shop and Café - a new hub to our community.
The Shop and Cafe opned November 2019 and has been trading successfully, supporting our community ever since.
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:
Trinders
Main Street
Bledington
Oxon
OX7 8UG