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Trade News Archive 2009 January February March April May June July
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1st July 2009
Village Core Programme to give power back to local shops
Communities are being given the opportunity to apply for funding to set up a local shop in their village and avoid dependence on chain supermarkets.
Known as the Village Core Program, the scheme is run by the Plunkett Foundation and aims to give rural communities the power to run their own stores.
The scheme has so far overseen the opening of 36 local shops since 2006. A further 17 are expected to open by the end of the year.
The programme is a partnership between the Plunkett Foundation, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance.
Ian Rothwell, development manager of Co-operative and Community Finance, said: "To those outside of rural communities, it can be difficult to understand the importance of a local shop but they really are vital to small communities.
"Often, they serve as a meeting hub for local residents and help to create community cohesion, which is why we're so keen to support them."
There are now over 200 community-owned rural shops in the UK.
(c) 2009
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