In June 2023 it was announced that Downderry Stores will close on 4th September 2023.

A month later, an open meeting was held in the Village Hall to talk about the possibility of opening a community shop and a community survey was distributed to households across the local area. 

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many residents volunteered their time, skills, funds and connections and, as a result, a steering group of volunteers has been set up to take the project forward.

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What is a community shop?

Community shops are owned and run democratically by members of their community. They are resilient forms of business, with a 94% long-term success rate. They have a positive impact on the local economy, supporting local producers and suppliers, and creating employment. There are already 350 community shops currently trading across the UK.

You can find out more about community shops at The Plunkett Foundation.