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Store is the Core
The Store is the Core is a new scheme, supported by the South West Regional Development Agency, which offers professional advice to village retailers. The objective is to improve their skills, diversify their businesses, and help secure their viability for the future. The ultimate objective is to maintain an essential resource for the rural community.
The programme is led by Community First (the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire), supported by the Rural Shops Alliance, ViRSA (Village Retail Services Association) and SWAN (South West ACRE Network). The Community Council for Somerset is pleased to support this project.
To find out more visit the Store is the Core website (www.storeisthecore.org.uk) or phone Sandra Ferneley or Tim Coomer on 01380 722475.
Village Shops
Through the Store is the Core programme, the village shops pilot supported 58 retailers in the South West. This covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Forty six of these also have a post office. There were 38 applications for further advice and grants, which resulted in 56 further days of advice being allocated. £143,500 of grants were applied for overall.
Community Shops
The Store is the Core has so far resulted in £139,000 of grants being allocated in the South West and 64 days advice being granted.
Those shops which have been successful in the programme have been notified of an extension of the deadline for all monies allocated to be spent -17th October 2008.
Successful retailers in Somerset
| Name of Shop | Place |
| Hansfords (Shipham) Ltd | Shipham |
| Stogumber Central Stores & Post Office | Stogumber |
| Winsford Stores | Winsford |
| Brent Knoll Post Office | Brent Knoll |
Below is a list of current contacts for a range of rural shops and post office enquiries. The most appropriate contact person in each of the 5 District/Borough Councils in Somerset is listed for area-specific enquiries. More technical and specialist knowledge can be obtained from the Rural Shops Alliance, ViRSA, Store is the Core, the Federation of Subpostmasters and Somerset Chamber of Commerce.
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Postwatch (for technical advice and guidance) |
Write to: FREEPOST POSTWATCH |
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Taunton Deane Borough Council |
Trevor Wall Email: t.wall@tauntondeane.gov.uk |
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Sedgemoor District Council |
Julie Cooper |
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Mendip District Council |
Ros Wilkins Email: wilkinsr@mendip.gov.uk |
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West Somerset Council |
Janice Malarkey |
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South Somerset District Council |
Charlotte Jones |
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Rural Shops Alliance |
Ken Parsons |
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ViRSA |
Email: virsa@plunkett.co.uk |
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Store is the Core Programme |
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Federation of Sub Postmasters |
John Bowman Email: bowmanjc@btopenworld.com |
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Somerset Chamber of Commerce |
Rupert Cox |