Buckland Brewer Community Shop
It was in December 2011 that I first visited the Methodist Church in the village of Buckland Brewer in North Devon. I had previously had conversations with Rev Graham Slingo, the Methodist Minister regarding the possibility of adapting the underused vestry of their Chapel to create a space that could be utilised as a community shop. It was then that I met with Pete McClymont, the Community Shop’s Chairman and although he and most of his committee were not linked with the Methodist Church they were also very keen to find a way forward that accommodated both groups. We quickly established a strong working relationship based on trust and this proved crucial as we worked together to achieve the goal of providing an excellent facility for the shop.
The village shop had closed in 2009 and a group from the community had formed a committee to see if a community shop was feasible. As the Methodist Church is situated in the centre of the village it was quickly identified as one of the possible venues for such a venture. The Church members have always been keen to find ways to respond to the needs of this rural area as part of their mission and so they were enthusiastic about this opportunity. However we soon discovered that there were no other community shops that are hosted in Methodist premises in England so we realised that the Church were very much pioneers in their efforts
Quite early on we decided that we needed to establish boundaries as to who would be responsible for what part of the project. It was agreed at the Church Council, that a 10 year lease would be drawn up so that the community shop committee could operate independently of the Church within agreed parameters. This was ratified by the local Methodist Circuit and also at District and Connexional level. It was also agreed that the Church would be responsible for funding the building work for the project whilst the Shop Committee would concentrate on raising funds necessary to open, equip and operate the shop and provide a new disabled access and decking area. We were then able to share information about progress and help each other with design, planning and grant applications for the project. Both groups benefited by receiving excellent help and advice from all sorts of sources including Plunkett Foundation, Village SOS, Community Council Devon, Torridge District Council as well as the Arthur Rank Centre.
Buckland Brewer Methodist Church raised the necessary £25,000 needed for the building work through grants from various sources and the shop committee raised a similar amount through grants and a local share issue. As we were working through the project there were times when it seemed never ending and frustrating and so it took a great deal of dogged determination to bring the shop to fruition. Therefore it was great when key milestones were passed, grants applications were successful and the lease was agreed.
2nd February 2013 was a real red letter day for the village and Methodist Church when a large enthusiastic crowd gathered to see the shop officially opened by Geoffrey Cox MP. The new shop has proved to be very successful with an excellent part time shop manager and band of volunteers who serve a growing clientele. The shop now buzzes with activity and is providing a vital service as well as a social meeting place The Church is now looking for others ways in which it can complement the shop by possibly providing a community cafe and drop in centre for older folk in other parts of the Church building.
Tips for success.
· Make sure the project fits in with the mission plan or vision statement for your Church and that there is good support for it in the congregation
· Make sure you have done adequate research regarding the need for a community shop in the local community.
· Gather together a strong team of helpers and work out a good plan of action. I found that drawing a good mind map was extremely useful . Ensure everyone knows their role and responsibility.
· Seek out advice from Church authorities at an early stage . It can be surprising what can be allowed and achieved within a Church building.
· Seek out good advice and learn from it. We valued help from Plunkett Foundation, Community Council Devon , Arthur Rank Centre, District Council as well as Church Rural Officers. Hereford Diocese publish a book called ‘Crossing the Threshold’, which is very useful.
· Be systematic. Start on any lease agreement s or planning permissions at any early stage as you will need these in place for any grant applications.
· Don’t try and re-invent the wheel, seek out and visit other similar projects as folk are always willing to share their experiences.
· Get advice, training on successful grant bid writing
· Keep the local community informed at each stage
· Keep focussed, have determination, persistency and a positive attitude .
Quotes
Grash – Shop volunteer
This is a fantastic place to be as it’s so lovely helping people . I have met more people in the last few months than in the previous 20 years I have lived in the village.
Pete McClymont , Shop Committee Chair :
There is no fixed template on how to run a project like this - I think that the successful completion was mostly down to doggedness rather than follow an imposed plan from grant funders or outside agencies
Rev . Graham Slingo :
The concept of a community shop within the Methodist building was embraced fully by the church family. The vestry was already being used extensively by other community groups, who now use other areas within the building and have not lost out in anyway. The church saw this as an opportunity to reduce some of the issues resulting from the current economic situation affecting many rural communities. The church raised the funds to convert the vestry area into a shop including a disabled access ramp and the decked open space. The reality is that you cannot separate the people know as Methodists from the wider community because they are also members of that community.
Having such a valuable resource within the village benefits everybody. We are all delighted to support the community shop and applaud the efforts of all in making this enterprise such a success.
Lorna Seymour Shop manager :
The village shop had closed in 2009 and a group from the community had formed a committee to see if a community shop was feasible. As the Methodist Church is situated in the centre of the village it was quickly identified as one of the possible venues for such a venture. The Church members have always been keen to find ways to respond to the needs of this rural area as part of their mission and so they were enthusiastic about this opportunity. However we soon discovered that there were no other community shops that are hosted in Methodist premises in England so we realised that the Church were very much pioneers in their efforts
Quite early on we decided that we needed to establish boundaries as to who would be responsible for what part of the project. It was agreed at the Church Council, that a 10 year lease would be drawn up so that the community shop committee could operate independently of the Church within agreed parameters. This was ratified by the local Methodist Circuit and also at District and Connexional level. It was also agreed that the Church would be responsible for funding the building work for the project whilst the Shop Committee would concentrate on raising funds necessary to open, equip and operate the shop and provide a new disabled access and decking area. We were then able to share information about progress and help each other with design, planning and grant applications for the project. Both groups benefited by receiving excellent help and advice from all sorts of sources including Plunkett Foundation, Village SOS, Community Council Devon, Torridge District Council as well as the Arthur Rank Centre.
Buckland Brewer Methodist Church raised the necessary £25,000 needed for the building work through grants from various sources and the shop committee raised a similar amount through grants and a local share issue. As we were working through the project there were times when it seemed never ending and frustrating and so it took a great deal of dogged determination to bring the shop to fruition. Therefore it was great when key milestones were passed, grants applications were successful and the lease was agreed.
2nd February 2013 was a real red letter day for the village and Methodist Church when a large enthusiastic crowd gathered to see the shop officially opened by Geoffrey Cox MP. The new shop has proved to be very successful with an excellent part time shop manager and band of volunteers who serve a growing clientele. The shop now buzzes with activity and is providing a vital service as well as a social meeting place The Church is now looking for others ways in which it can complement the shop by possibly providing a community cafe and drop in centre for older folk in other parts of the Church building.
Tips for success.
· Make sure the project fits in with the mission plan or vision statement for your Church and that there is good support for it in the congregation
· Make sure you have done adequate research regarding the need for a community shop in the local community.
· Gather together a strong team of helpers and work out a good plan of action. I found that drawing a good mind map was extremely useful . Ensure everyone knows their role and responsibility.
· Seek out advice from Church authorities at an early stage . It can be surprising what can be allowed and achieved within a Church building.
· Seek out good advice and learn from it. We valued help from Plunkett Foundation, Community Council Devon , Arthur Rank Centre, District Council as well as Church Rural Officers. Hereford Diocese publish a book called ‘Crossing the Threshold’, which is very useful.
· Be systematic. Start on any lease agreement s or planning permissions at any early stage as you will need these in place for any grant applications.
· Don’t try and re-invent the wheel, seek out and visit other similar projects as folk are always willing to share their experiences.
· Get advice, training on successful grant bid writing
· Keep the local community informed at each stage
· Keep focussed, have determination, persistency and a positive attitude .
Quotes
Grash – Shop volunteer
This is a fantastic place to be as it’s so lovely helping people . I have met more people in the last few months than in the previous 20 years I have lived in the village.
Pete McClymont , Shop Committee Chair :
There is no fixed template on how to run a project like this - I think that the successful completion was mostly down to doggedness rather than follow an imposed plan from grant funders or outside agencies
Rev . Graham Slingo :
The concept of a community shop within the Methodist building was embraced fully by the church family. The vestry was already being used extensively by other community groups, who now use other areas within the building and have not lost out in anyway. The church saw this as an opportunity to reduce some of the issues resulting from the current economic situation affecting many rural communities. The church raised the funds to convert the vestry area into a shop including a disabled access ramp and the decked open space. The reality is that you cannot separate the people know as Methodists from the wider community because they are also members of that community.
Having such a valuable resource within the village benefits everybody. We are all delighted to support the community shop and applaud the efforts of all in making this enterprise such a success.
Lorna Seymour Shop manager :
BBC Spotlight news about Buckland Brewer Shop opening February 2013
David Fisher from the Plunkett Foundation
Community shop building work continues 26/10/12
I called in at Buckland Brewer on Friday to check on progress for the community shop. The transformation of the space from Chapel vestry to community shop is gaining pace and is gaining interest by the day in the village. There has been much discussion about this happening and to see it happening is really quite exciting. It is hope to open the shop in late November.
Shop progress November 2012
Site of Buckland Brewer Community shop
Buckland Brewer Community shop is now changing from a concept in to a reality. The idea for the village Methodist Church to lease space in their building for a community shop was a hoped for dream last year but after much effort by the Community shop committee and members of the Methodist Church it is fast becoming a reality. Builders are in and the shop will hopefuly open by the end of November 2012. This we consider will be the first community shop that has been hosted in a Methodist Church and I am really delighted to see it happen in Devon. Please have a look through the business plan and shop prospectus to see how it has been achieved. Check out the Shop website