A community shop in West Dorset has been shortlisted in a national competition.
Broadwindsor Community Stores is a finalist in the ‘better services’ category of the Plunkett Foundation’s rural community ownership awards along with community shops in Wiltshire and Cheshire. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in Oxford in July.
Fraser Hughes, chairman of Broadwindsor and District Commmunity Enterprise, which runs the stores, said: “It’s terrific for our shop to make the shortlist of this national competition.
“Plunkett are the absolute experts in this field and their decision to place us in the final three is an honour in itself.
“Competition in the final is very stiff and we have some worthy opponents. But it just shows how everyone in our community has pulled together to make us the success we are.
“So, thanks to the committee, shop staff, volunteers and, of course, customers for their support.”
The awards were launched this year with the aim of commending committed teams of people who work together to deliver vital services to their community.
Plunkett supports rural communities in setting up and running shops, pubs, food enterprises and other co-operatives.
Broadwindsor Community Stores opened just over a year ago in the old telephone exchange in Drimpton Road after the village’s only shop closed in August 2011. It is run as a community enterprise with a paid manager and assistant and a host of local volunteers.
