About The Pantry

The Pantry was set up in 2014 in what used to be the St Briavels Butcher’s shop. Since then there have been several sets of owners/managers.

When the most recent decided to leave at the end of December 2020 the Parish Council set up a working group to consider how the shop could be secured for the long term.
Some local residents got themselves together into a committee, and with an initial grant of £2000 from the Parish Council they formed a Community Benefit Society to take over the shop.

Any enterprise like this has initial startup costs, such as the purchase of stock and assets. With the generous help of the previous owners and a timely grant of £8000 from the St Briavels Wind Turbine fund, the CBS was able to get the shop onto a firm footing early in 2021.

A community benefit society is like a co-operative, with members, but all profits must be returned to the shop or used for community projects. Members do not take dividends or other financial benefits. This means the shop is run solely for the community.

Who runs the shop?

The shop is managed by a committee made up of local volunteers. They ensure all the legal and financial duties are met, employ staff, gather feedback from locals, make changes to the shop, and promote links with other local enterprises. On a day-to-day basis the shop is managed by Adele James and Kate Hardinge as well as a team of volunteers.

Why is this good for the village?

A local community shop can play a huge role in improving peoples’ well-being and mental health. Those who are vulnerable, elderly, isolated, a new parent, or unemployed are perhaps more likely to be able to access a local shop. A shop can offer the opportunity for regular exercise or regularly getting out of the house, meeting up with others or simply having social contact with those volunteering in the shop. It is much more than a place to buy provisions.

Local Community shops can also help support other local businesses (by stocking their produce or through joint ventures) and help reduce our carbon footprint: stocking local produce means fewer food miles. Customers who can access the shop without a car and, those who need to drive having a shorter journey all goes towards reducing emissions.

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