Somerset Village of the Year 2018: Why the Kingsbury Community Shop is up for Village Shop of the Year
The shop is up for the award as part of the Somerset Village of the Year competition
Max BakerTrainee Digital Reporter
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The Somerset Village of the year competition is well underway, with judging having taken place in all categories.
The Best Village Shop award is one of the categories that makes up the awards, and the Kingsbury Community Shop has been nominated.
The awards, organised by Somerset Live, were launched to recognise the best of the 400 villages in the county.
The village of Kingsbury Episcopi has a population of around 1,300 people and the small shop has been recognised for its ability to cater for the community.
Here's why the shop has been nominated.
Kingsbury Community Shop is up for Village Shop of the Year (Image: Michael Williams)
The Kingsbury Community Shop is a very successful community enterprise, providing a full range of groceries and fresh produce at competitive prices.
It is a real hub for the community and is staffed and run almost entirely by volunteers.
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Service and development
The community shop started in a shipping container in 2012, after the last shop in Kingsbury Episcopi closed ten years earlier.
In 2016 the community successfully applied for UK Big Lottery funding for a new community centre, including the shop.
Volunteers contribute to serving the community (Image: Michael Williams)
The project was also supported by SSDC, local businesses and community donations.
Completed and opened in 2017, the Kingsbury Community Shop is open 7 days a week and delivers excellent service and value, also helping to fund the Kingsbury Episcopi Community Centre.
Something extra
A café is attached to the shop with sunny tables overlooking the recreation ground.
It's a popular spot for locals, walkers and cyclists to meet for coffee, tea, cooked breakfasts, light lunches and delicious locally made cakes.
Local produce is a permanent fixture in the shop (Image: Michael Williams)
Opportunities for young people
Volunteers fill the regular shifts throughout the week, but the shop also provides paid work experience for young people in the village after school and at weekends.
It's a brilliant example of community enterprise – a successful business model adapted to the changing rural economy.
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What would winning the prize mean?
Local resident Katy Cronin said: "I think winning this prize would be a wonderful way to recognise the contribution made by so many people to the success of the Kingsbury Community Shop, and also help to spread the word about it all over Somerset.
"But I am sure they could find good use for the funds too!"
The shop started in a shipping container in 2012 (Image: Michael Williams)
The results of the competition will be announced in October.
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