Tag: Plunkett Foundation

Community pubs and shops booming against backdrop of closures

Stuart Mitchell

National charity the Plunkett Foundation releases two reports showing rural community businesses thriving and growing in number as people take control in the face of multiple challenges Across the UK more shops and pubs than ever are now in community ownership and are bucking the national trend of rural closures. By the end of 2018 there were nearly 100 community pubs trading across the UK – with 11 opening in the previous year alone. Meanwhile 16 new community owned and run shops started trading – bringing the national total to…

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Search for the most inspiring rural community businesses of 2019 begins!

Stuart Mitchell

National charity Plunkett Foundation announces details of its seventh national awards ceremony which will showcase the most inspiring enterprises owned and run by rural communities across the UK. Applications are sought from all types of community businesses, from shops and pubs to groups managing woodlands for the benefit of local residents.   There are seven award categories this year which celebrate different types of achievement including, ‘Strengthening the Community’, ‘Investing in Local People’ and, new for this year, ‘One to Watch’ which will recognise a community business which is close to,…

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National charity celebrates 100 years of support for rural communities across the UK

Stuart Mitchell

On 17 January 1919, Sir Horace Plunkett signed an indenture which became the original trust deed for the Plunkett Foundation. Sir Horace believed strongly in the power of co-operation to achieve sustainable local development and the purpose of the Foundation was to promote the model of community ownership as a solution to rural problems. The fact that 100 years later communities throughout the UK and beyond are increasingly using this community business model as a means of safeguarding or reintroducing local services and assets is testament to the vision of…

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