Blogs

From Local Roots to Royal Recognition

2025-11-25T15:39:02+00:00

This is the story of Huby & Sutton Community Shop; a volunteer-run hub at the heart of its village, now honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. “We think about how we can keep it local in everything we do.” Finalists at the 2024 Rural Community Business Awards These [...]

From Local Roots to Royal Recognition2025-11-25T15:39:02+00:00

Connecting the Community at the Heart of Woodcroft

2025-11-18T16:06:57+00:00

This is the story of The Rising Sun, an award-winning pub that has become a vital hub for the community of Woodcroft, Gloucestershire. When the village faced the closure of its only facility, the community fought to save it. With support from Plunkett UK, the community reopened their cherished pub in [...]

Connecting the Community at the Heart of Woodcroft2025-11-18T16:06:57+00:00

Representing Plunkett Members in Political Conversations

2025-10-30T10:01:58+00:00

Our Head of External Affairs, David Lydiat, reflects on what he heard and engaged with at this autumn’s Conservative and Labour Party Conferences Party Conference season is always a unique opportunity to listen, engage, and advocate for the recognition of community ownership. With the political landscape shifting and rural communities often [...]

Representing Plunkett Members in Political Conversations2025-10-30T10:01:58+00:00

Investing in Local People in Gairloch and Loch Ewe

2025-10-21T14:44:22+00:00

This is the story of GALE’s award-winning approach to inclusive volunteering and year-round community impact The Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (GALE) is a community-owned Development Trust based in mid-Wester Ross, serving the village of Gairloch and its surrounding areas. GALE’s mission is to build “a sustainable, resilient, and vibrant [...]

Investing in Local People in Gairloch and Loch Ewe2025-10-21T14:44:22+00:00

Places that genuinely care for people

2025-10-15T09:56:39+00:00

From serving free coffee every Tuesday to improving the mental health of volunteers, James from Co-operatives UK and Andrew from Plunkett made a joint visit to find out how community-owned businesses go above and beyond to truly meet the needs of local people. We were pleased to welcome James Dady, [...]

Places that genuinely care for people2025-10-15T09:56:39+00:00

Three Decades of Community Ownership at Itteringham Community Shop

2025-10-03T14:50:45+00:00

In this case study, Michael Wolverson, Communications Officer, speaks with committee member Mike Hemsley, who shares insights into Itteringham’s 30-year journey of having a community-owned shop. Could you share the story of how the community came together to establish the community shop 30 years ago? In 1994, Brian Fairhead, [...]

Three Decades of Community Ownership at Itteringham Community Shop2025-10-03T14:50:45+00:00

The transformative power of co-operation

2025-09-30T13:14:21+00:00

Sophie Ziegler-Jones explains why partnering with Plunkett and supporting community-owned businesses is a natural fit for the co-operative wholesaler Suma, and describes how she was moved by our 2025 Awards. Back in July, I had the privilege of attending Plunkett UK’s Rural Community Business Awards, held at the Royal Society [...]

The transformative power of co-operation2025-09-30T13:14:21+00:00

Inside The King’s Arms: A Story of Local Resilience

2025-09-26T13:56:40+00:00

Plunkett is proud of the 99% survival rate for community businesses – but what does that look like on the ground? Our Communications Officer, Michael Wolverson, shares more from a trip to south west Scotland… May 2025 As I arrived in Ballantrae, the notorious ‘Scottish rain’ swept in, and the [...]

Inside The King’s Arms: A Story of Local Resilience2025-09-26T13:56:40+00:00

Now is the time

2025-09-19T15:10:42+00:00

This National Inclusion Week (15-21 September), we’re celebrating how Plunkett and community businesses are building inclusive workplaces and creating lasting impact across the UK. Founded by Inclusive Employers in 2013, National Inclusion Week is an annual celebration of inclusion and a call to action for building more inclusive workplaces. As the [...]

Now is the time2025-09-19T15:10:42+00:00

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Rural Communities

2025-09-15T11:36:56+00:00

George Ogier, Impact Officer at Plunkett UK, shares his reflections on the recent EDI Special Interest Group meeting held on 9 September. Plunkett UK recently hosted the third event in a series designed to shine a light on both equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and tackling climate change. This session [...]

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Rural Communities2025-09-15T11:36:56+00:00
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