The Shop Formation, 2018
To progress the plans and to formulate a business plan, a Steering Team was formed. The team of over 11 people, both from the community and from Gorsley Baptist Church, worked extremely hard on many varied tasks to make the shop a reality.
Speaking to other similar projects in Herefordshire, it was evident that it takes on average 2-10 years to establish such a community shop. The fact that Gorsley Community Shop opened one year after the former shop closed shows the achievement of everyone involved.
The Shop Building
The Baptist Church has leased a room attached to the main church building, to Gorsley Community Shop CIC, for the use of the shop. The room is 7.5m x 3.4m, equivalent to the former shop. As well as fitting out, the roomneeded a new external door and ramp for access. The shed will be relocated so the shop will overlook the field (and play park in time). A planning application for change of use was approved.
The Internal Renovations
With space being so important and also having to conform to certain requirements for the Post Office, the layout of the shop was extremely important. We are very thankful for the donation of the shelving and appliances, those who decorated, the installation of the new floor and the new electrics that were required.
External Renovations
Access to the new shop, using the existing car parks of the church, was created by a new paved pathway which also provided the necessary disabled access.
Gorsley Community Shop Ltd.
Gorsley Community Shop Ltd.
The legal entity of Gorsley Community Shop Ltd. has now been formed and is a Community Interest Company. This company will be a separate entity in its own right, where all profits are fed back into the shop or used for community projects. It will be run by a maximum of 8 directors, with 5 being appointable from the church and 3 from the wider community.
The Steering Team are still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be a director and support the project into the future in such a way.