Big Society open or shut?

I’ve developed an interest in community owned shops. They’re growing in popularity; there’s even one at Ambridge. But in Norfolk, my home county, there are currently only three. Suffolk, our neighbour and traditional rival in so many ways, has six. That’s reason enough for me to ask a few questions.

By happy coincidence, Victory Housing, one of the more progressive rural housing associations had expressed an interest in community shops too. With around 5,000 properties, many in isolated communities with few facilities, they wanted to play a key role in putting more community shops on the map. A tenant survey showed that people wanted local shopping and as part of a £1m ‘Victory Charter’ investment in improvements to properties and communities, £60k was set aside to make this happen.

I boldly suggested that this money could pump prime five new community shop projects in Norfolk. Victory challenged me to deliver this and so away I went. Firstly, we put the £60k somewhere safe. Somewhere from where it could not be diverted, liberated or lost. The local Community Foundation now has the money in a named fund, from which grants will only be made to community shop projects. As a Trustee of the Foundation I knew this was a good move. It meant I could look for match funding.

Naturally my first port of call was my friends at the Plunkett Foundation. They’ve recently launched a brilliant membership network for community shops. They are the knowledge leaders in this field and also have access to match funding grants, community friendly lenders and a whole lot more. James Alcock was lured to Norfolk and quickly saw the opportunity. Housing Associations can be great catalysts for social change. What we do here can be replicated elsewhere.

But as I’m sure the community engagement experts amongst you will know, planning it is one thing; selling the idea to the target audience something quite different. Local press coverage and a very positive local radio interview delivered a handful of enquiries. This was going to need direct action.

Approaches to parish councils in villages that look a good bet (lots of people and no shop) delivered some interesting responses. Often, the very reason folk say it’s not worth exploring is the very reason it is. For example one community said they did not want to jeopardise the small ‘honesty box’ farm produce stall that a local grower had set up. ‘He’s making an effort and we don’t want to compete,’ was what they said.

I pointed out that many community shops were based in converted farm buildings and therefore what they saw as a problem was actually an opportunity. I guess it’s human nature to always look for the problem first. I hope it’s not just a Norfolk thing, although that would explain why we only have three.

The other evening, I gathered a group of interested community activists, leaders and perhaps the odd busy-body in one room. We talked about community shops, we talked about grants and we talked about Norfolk. And then I introduced the group to Andrew Purdy. He lead the creation of a new community shop in Great Ryburgh. What he said summed up for me the whole community shop opportunity.

When he moved in, there was a village shop. It was poorly stocked, poorly run and poorly supported. The owners wanted out and in time retired. To keep a shop in the village, Andrew’s team ran it on a voluntary basis until their new shop was ready to open. Andrew’s story is fascinating and well worth listening to. But for me, there was one thing that stood out.

In its final year of trading, the privately owned village shop turned over just £20,000. Under community management and volunteer run, its annual sales doubled to £40,000. Two years later, the new community owned shop, is turning over close to £200,000 a year.

It only goes to show that if people in a community become shareholders in a shop, take an interest in its operation, they will use it too. There is some passing trade, but the astounding sales growth has resulted from true community ownership. As one door closes another can open; but only if you get everyone involved. To me, this is what Big Society is all about.