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, Member Relations Co-ordinator from our partner, Co-operatives UK, to Oxfordshire last month to share more about Plunkett UK and to see two community-owned businesses in action.
As the nation’s apex body, Co-operatives UK provides expert advice and support to member-owned businesses, alongside development work and advocacy. James is a recent addition to the membership team at Co-operatives UK, which is also a member of the Co-operative Retail Society Network – a unique collaboration of organisations committed to growing the size and impact of the rural community-owned business sector.
Following time at Plunkett’s office gaining a better understanding of the charity and its partnership with Co-operatives UK, James visited The White Horse in Stonesfield and Weston-on-the-Green Community Shop – which both raised money through community share offers – with Plunkett’s Communications Manager, Andrew Dubock.
James Dady (right) in conversation with White Horse pub manager, Craig
The White Horse, Stonesfield
After a tasty light lunch in the cosy, wooden-beamed surroundings of the White Horse pub, James and Andrew had the opportunity to talk with its tenant, Craig.
After re-opening under community ownership with Plunkett’s support in June 2024, the pub has been going from strength-to-strength. There are regular examples of community outreach, such as Coffee Tuesdays that provide free food and drink for older people. Local art groups meet at the pub, and there is a six-week rotation displaying pieces for sale by local artists.
The weekend after we visited, the pub was hosting an Autumn Fair in its garden with 12 local stallholders selling artisan goods and products – a great way to support local commerce.
The White Horse has over 1,000 shareholders – almost five times more than the average for community-owned pubs. These include those from nearby villages and even international shareholders who read the pub’s story in a piece in the New York Times and wanted to own a piece of a pub in the UK, near the Cotswolds. Craig said that they often get coachloads of international visitors stopping by and he believes people from places such as the USA and Australia have bought shares in the place as gifts for family members.
Craig explained: “We have a strong focus on delivering a service that the community wants, so it isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ and that people support once as a charitable endeavour, but that the pub is a place they continue to engage with and use.”
Weston-on-the-Green Community Shop
A short drive took James and Andrew to Weston-on-the-Green, and a village shop and post office that has been in operation for over 100 years, but under community ownership only since April 2025.
Many villages that Plunkett supports have a battle to save or reopen their local assets, but the community at Weston-on-the-Green worked closely with the previous owner to ensure a smooth transition, and there was only one morning that the shop was shut to allow for the post office to transfer ownership.
The previous owner allowed the community two years to find the money to purchase the shop. They raised £230,000 through 116 community shares investors, with Co-operatives UK providing an additional £15,000 in an equity matched investment as part of its Booster Fund initiative, run in partnership with Locality, Plunkett UK, and Co-operative and Community Finance, and funded by Access.
The community also secured a Community Ownership Fund grant under the previous government which financed half of their mortgage payments, giving them room to breathe.
Fiona from the shop committee told us: “We couldn’t have done it without Plunkett. We learned lots from a business planning webinar and had support from an expert adviser who was really helpful in ways we hadn’t even considered.”
The shop and post office offers freshly made sandwiches, hot drinks and snacks to takeaway, and space for local artists and products. There are eight paid staff at the shop and some volunteers too – although there is always a need for more to keep things going.
We heard from Fiona how different local people were benefitting by being a part of the community shop. These include an older man whose mental health has significantly improved by getting out of his house and helping at the shop, and a young woman who is neurodivergent and regularly helps with newspapers and preparing food.
They have a clear focus in ensuring the elderly and others with additional needs are well looked after and have a system to check in on them. With extra funding in future, the shop hopes to invest in improve accessibility at the front of the shop.
The front of the community shop at Weston-on-the-Green
Locally produced preserves at Weston-on-the-Green Community Shop
James Dady reflected on his visit by saying:
“For me, the overriding theme that connected the two places centred around the almost intangible, or easy-to-miss, aspects of community ownership, which allows for somewhere that can truly meet the needs of the community.
“They are run by people from the local community, in the best interests of the local community, and it allows for so much social value to be embedded in how they operate. They are supporting local businesses, increasing accessibility, tackling loneliness, and so much more.
“In a similar way to Plunkett and the two community-owned businesses we visited, we (Co-operatives UK) support thousands of member-owned organisations who care deeply about putting purpose first, not just profit. Co-operatives, from football clubs and farms to convenience stores and community hubs, share our commitment to a fairer society through shared wealth and member control – and it was great to see two shining examples in action!”
Hot food and sandwiches are particularly popular with passing drivers and local tradespeople
Co-operative Retail Society Network
The Co-operative Retail Society Network consists of Southern Co-op, Central Co-op, Midcounties Co-op, Radstock Co-op, Co-op Group and Co-operatives UK. As members they:
- share co-operative and retail knowledge, expertise and connections
- raise the profile of the co-operative model
- explore practical and innovative ways of supporting community-owned businesses; and
- make an annual financial contribution towards Plunkett UK’s free community business service.
Through the Network’s support, communities are using the co-operative model to tackle some of the most important issues in our society, such as isolation and loneliness, wellbeing, employment and training.
