Blogs

Levelling Up – Have rural communities been forgotten?

2022-09-23T16:12:18+00:00

Plunkett’s Head of Policy and Communications, Chris Cowcher shares his views on Levelling Up as part of the launch of our new Strategy. Last week Plunkett launched a new 5 year strategy, with an ambition to grow the rural community business sector by 20% by 2026. The strategy was shared with members [...]

Levelling Up – Have rural communities been forgotten?2022-09-23T16:12:18+00:00

Providing essential experience to local young people

2022-09-05T15:37:23+00:00

Community-owned businesses offer work and training that can be a lifeline to young people in remote and isolated rural communities. Ferne Scriven and Alison Macklin, from Brockweir & Hewelsfield Village Shop, describe the benefits of young people supporting their local community business. For many years Brockweir & Hewelsfield Village community-owned shop, in [...]

Providing essential experience to local young people2022-09-05T15:37:23+00:00

Energy price crisis: There is no quick fix, but we must act now

2022-08-26T16:14:36+00:00

Plunkett’s Chief Executive, James Alcock, responds to the cost of living and energy price crises facing community-owned businesses. We are seeing so much in the media about individual households being affected by the energy price crisis, and calls on government to help, but we know from first-hand, that businesses are affected too [...]

Energy price crisis: There is no quick fix, but we must act now2022-08-26T16:14:36+00:00

Six ways to tackle spiralling energy prices

2022-08-26T10:38:27+00:00

How will you protect your business? Plunkett is acutely aware that the major, and worsening, issue around energy costs constitutes a critical challenge for community businesses nationwide. We have, unsurprisingly, heard from a number of Plunkett members about energy price increases at the end of fixed tariffs that will prove extremely challenging [...]

Six ways to tackle spiralling energy prices2022-08-26T10:38:27+00:00

Westbury Community Shop and Cafe supports local special needs school students

2023-03-17T15:13:49+00:00

Mel Cooper, manager of the Westbury Community Shop and Cafe, shares why they have started working with a local special needs school, offering work experience to students Earlier this year, we were approached by Furze Down School in Winslow, and asked if we would offer regular work experiences sessions to a group [...]

Westbury Community Shop and Cafe supports local special needs school students2023-03-17T15:13:49+00:00

Dormant Assets – A potential source of future support for our sector?

2022-08-26T12:08:37+00:00

Plunkett Foundation is currently considering our response to a consultation about how the English portion of dormant assets funding should benefit broad social or environmental causes. The consultation runs until Sunday 9 October 2022, more information can be read via this link and we are keen to hear the views of our [...]

Dormant Assets – A potential source of future support for our sector?2022-08-26T12:08:37+00:00

Plunkett responds to Labour’s levelling-up plans

2022-08-03T15:15:28+00:00

Plunkett’s Chief Executive, James Alcock, responds to the Labour party's commitment to a 'Community Right to Buy' and levelling up plans. At a risk of preaching to the already converted, community businesses (businesses which are genuinely owned and run democratically by members of their local community) are already playing a significant role [...]

Plunkett responds to Labour’s levelling-up plans2022-08-03T15:15:28+00:00

Community-owned businesses creating fairer access to food

2022-07-15T13:40:36+00:00

Plunkett’s Head of Community Business, Claire Spendley sets out the case for community-owned food solutions in relation to the Government’s Food Strategy. Last month, DEFRA published the Government food strategy for England, acknowledging the extraordinary efforts at every stage of the food system to respond to an unprecedented surge in demand during [...]

Community-owned businesses creating fairer access to food2022-07-15T13:40:36+00:00

Plunkett responds to reports that commercial pub numbers fall to a record low

2022-07-11T09:05:28+00:00

Plunkett Foundation’s communications manager, Liz Woznicki considers how community-ownership could be part of the solution to the dramatic decline of pub numbers. Recent national media has highlighted the declining number of pubs in England and Wales according to analysis and research by the Altus Group. It identifies the immensely challenging trading experiences [...]

Plunkett responds to reports that commercial pub numbers fall to a record low2022-07-11T09:05:28+00:00

Making the case to level-up rural communities

2022-08-26T11:42:53+00:00

If we genuinely are going to “level-up” the nation then “rural proofing” the Government’s programme of work is critical. On Tuesday evening shortly after the ministerial merry-go round had begun; which has ultimately led to the resignation of Boris Johnson, James Alcock (our CEO) and I attended an event in the House [...]

Making the case to level-up rural communities2022-08-26T11:42:53+00:00
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