FOLLOWING the tragic death of the current owner of Kirkoswald’s only shop, this valuable local amenity is at risk of closure. Local residents are determined not to let this happen and have today launched a Community Share Offer to raise £200,000 to save their shop.
Kirkoswald, a vibrant village in the Eden Valley, Cumbria has had a shop for over 100 years, serving locals and tourists alike. But with the shop up for sale following the death of the current owner from Covid-19 last year, the threat of closure has been looming large for several months.
This is where a group of determined residents have stepped in with an ambitious plan to purchase the shop and run it as a Community Shop. To do this they need to raise £200,000 by the end of June.
The launch of the Share Offer on 21April takes Kirkoswald a step closer to saving the shop and also gives everyone in the community and beyond the opportunity to “own” a piece of this historic Cumbrian village.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border has shown his support from the start of the project: “This community-based project will allow local people to have ownership of this facility and will not only help to keep this rural village sustainable but will create a vital hub for this community. I fully support this fantastic local initiative. The shop is essential to the village.”
The Management Committee for Kirkoswald Community Shop has structured the Share Offer to make it accessible to all with the minimum purchase being one share costing £25.
Chair of the Management Committee, Ruth Anderson MBE commented “We are delighted to be able to launch this Share Offer inviting people and businesses to play their part in rescuing our shop from closure. We have been overwhelmed with offers of support so far from members of our community with pledges of over £100,000. But we still have a long way to go to hit our £200,000 target so please dig deep and help keep our community alive!”
The shop not only provides essential goods but is also a community hub to exchange information, to help tackle rural isolation and is a lifeline for those without transport.
Hearing the stories of people who use the shop indicates how critical it is that the fundraising target is hit. Nev Jackson (pictured) said “I have been using this shop for over 70 years, it is absolutely essential to keep it open!” and for John, the shop is part of his daily routine.
“I have been walking down the hill from home to the shop every morning for over 20 years since I retired, to collect my newspaper. I don’t know what I would do if the shop wasn’t there.”
As part of the project, the Management Committee is also seeking grant funding to contribute to the £200,000 target. One organisation which has offered support, and has already contributed £5,000 towards set-up costs, is The Community Shares Unit. In addition to the set-up grant, through their Power to Change Community Shares Booster Programme, if Kirkoswald Community Shop can raise £125,000 through the share offer they should be set to receive grant funding of £25,000.
John Dawson, Head of Social Investment Programmes at Power to Change, said: “We believe that community businesses can change lives and transform places for the better. We wish Kirkoswald Community Shop the very best ofluck with their community share offer.”
Details of the Kirkoswald Community Shop Share Offer can be found on the website www.kirkoswaldshop.co.uk.
