Store is the Core is an advisory programme supporting village retailers across the South West.

Managed by Community First (Wiltshire) with funding from the Rural Development Fund for England (RDPE) the programme aims to support 150 village shops over an 18 month period from August 2011 to February 2013. 

Store is the Core is able to support independent and community retailers across the whole region through Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Gloucestershire. Support may include a combination of expert retail/ business advice and training plus a local mentor to help shops engage better with their community and support in accessing any potential *grant opportunities. 

Including: 

• One-to-one advice and support from a retail adviser
• A Health-Check report for the business
• Opportunity for support from a local mentor
• Ongoing support as required (to a maximum number of days)
• Training opportunities
• Copy of a guide to running a successful shop (New Edition planned for Spring 2012)

Store is the Core is only able to support village and community retailers that meet a set criteria designed to ensure that shops most in need of help or shops that operate in particularly isolated communities are supported. 

Basic Criteria 

• The shop must be an integral part of the community
• The shop must be independently owned or community owned (and trading)
• The shop must be the only remaining store in the village selling provisions
• The nearest shop is more than two miles away (by road)
• Annual turnover is above £100,000 and does not exceed £500,000 per annum
• The business employs at least one external member of staff
• The village population is less than 3,000

For more information about how the programme works you can download the Helping Village Shops across the South West Leaflet from below, and if you would like to apply for support please download and complete this SitC Expression of Interest Form. 

We believe this effective combination of support will help fight the battle against the decline in Shops and Post Offices in rural areas and hope that by supporting these shops we can help ensure access to vital services and help maintain a vibrant and sustainable future for our rural communities.

Attachments:

Helping Village Shops Across the South West Leaflet.pdf	567 Kb	9/5/2011
SitC Expression of Interest Form.doc	2863 Kb	9/5/2011