Bringing Llandyrnog Village Shop and Post Office into community hands
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After the closure of the Village Shop in Llandyrnog, the local community came together to take matters into their own hands and plan to purchase the property with the aim of reopening the shop for the benefit of the whole community
The Village Shop in Llandyrnog has been a vital part of the community since its establishment in 1841. However, due to the impact of Covid and the owner's inability to find a buyer, the shop has stopped trading. Currently, only the Post Office section of the shop is operational, but it too faces the risk of closure as the property has been listed for sale, with potential interest to convert it into a residential property.
Two village shops, three pubs (two with restaurants), and a butcher's shop used to serve the community, but now only one pub and the Post Office remain.
Taking action
Initially a post was placed on the community Facebook page to gauge the level of interest in seeing the Shop re-opened as a Community Shop. The post received over 120 responses in 10 days, prompting a public meeting with a capacity crowd of 150 attendees. An amazing 57 volunteers came forward offering a range of skills after the meeting.
The new Community Shop will introduce a Community/Coffee Hub and offer a wide range of products and services, aiming to become a "destination" for locals, and visitors to the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Funding the project
The community wanted to keep the asset in community ownership for perpetuity. Due to the cost of the building and renovations, they needed grant support alongside their community share offer.
The Community Ownership Fund (COF) awarded £180,000 in capital funding and £20,000 in revenue grant funding to assist in achieving Community Ownership for both the purchase and first year’s salary which will greatly enhance the sustainability of the business.
Getting the right support
Cwmpas (an official support partner of the Community Ownership Fund) provided valuable assistance to the team in developing our business plan, forecasting, and COF (Community Ownership Fund) application. They offered guidance on both the strategic and practical aspects of the application, providing over 100 hours of direct support. They also helped us apply for other grants for matching funds and preparing our community share offer. Additionally, the team received significant support from their local MP.
Advice to other projects
- Ensure you are familiar with all the rules and requirements
- Work with a specialist support provider like Cwmpas (or regional equivalent) for guidance
- Seek advice from someone who has been through the process before
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