AUGUST 2018

pThorncombe Village Shop in Dorset is one of many community stores supported by Plunkett
DEVELOPMENT
Plunkett announces its
five-year strategy
for supporting
community business
Plunkett Foundation, which supports
rural community businesses, has released
a five-year strategy to “be more focused
and target our resources and efforts more
clearly and effectively”.
It said there would be no major shift in
its goals, and the 2018-2002 plan would
continue to focus on growing the rural
community business sector; encourage
its development more widely; and spread
understanding a of its role supporting the
wellbeing of rural communities.
This includes a widening of the concept
of ‘community businesses’ to reflect the
broadening use of community ownership,
so that it can support a greater range
of community ownership solutions.
And it has set out five key objectives:
Growing the sector: Helping more
rural communities to open community
businesses and ensuring those already
trading have the support they need
Extending its relevance and reach:
Ensuring the community business model
and the support available are relevant and
accessible in all parts of the UK.
Increasing social impact: Helping
community businesses to focus on the
social impact they will have on all those
living and working in their communities
Creating an enabling environment:
Advocating rural community businesses
and championing their cause
Rural co-ops eligible for ownership awards
Plunkett is welcoming applications
for this year’s Rural Community
Ownership Awards, with co-ops and
community benefit societies among
those eligible.
The categories are: community story
of the year; investing in local people:
the little things – for tackling loneliness
and isolation; diversifying to make
a difference; and people’s choice,
for an individual who has made a
difference in their community. Finally,
the Horace Plunkett Better Business
Improving Plunkett’s own
sustainability: Ensuring the long-term
survival of the service and that of the wider
rural community business movement.
The strategy will offer a practical
support service for community businesses,
which will be the “go-to place for rural
communities looking to set up or run all
manner of community businesses”.
There will also be a range of activities led
by Plunkett’s engagement team, who have
responsibility for communications and
awareness-raising activities, consultation
and lobbying, and developing good
working relationships with stakeholders.
In the longer term, Plunkett wants to
establish an information and innovation
hub to gather and share intelligence
and expertise on the rural community
business sector – although this depends
on the resources coming available
Finally, it aims to make its operation
more efficient “through attracting high
Award will go to a community business
with the longevity and a track record
that demonstrates innovation.
Nominations for the awards,
which are supported by Esmée
Fairbairn Foundation and Hastoe
Housing Association, are open until
14 September. Each category winner
will receive £250 as well as the support
and materials to host a celebration for
their community.
To apply, visit plunkett.co.uk/aboutthe-awards/
quality people, and through effective
governance, efficient operations and
financial management”.
The introduction to the strategy says:
“Plunkett is proud of its roots ... For
almost 100 years, it has supported rural
communities to thrive through community
business and to improve the quality of life.
“Today, it represents the interests of
over 500 rural community businesses that
it has helped to establish and a further
400 in the process of setting up, as well as
those who are just starting on the path.”
It adds: “For the last few years, we
have focused on growing the rural
community business sector, specifically
through piloting new community
business models and targeting those
areas, geographic and sectoral, where
the model was less developed. We have
pioneered community ownership among
a wider range of sectors, including pubs,
woodlands and health.”
14 | AUGUST 2018