Clawddnewydd Siop-Y-Fro
Siop y Fro, Community Shop, Clawddnewydd
The shop was opened in February 2002 following a number of years of fund raising and research by a dedicated group of volunteers. The aim was to re-establish a village shop and involve the communities of Clawddnewydd, Clocaenog and Derwen through shareholding. The residents set up the business as an Industrial Provident Society allowing for residents to buy shares of £10 enabling them to have equal rights in the running of the project.
Any money generated through the shop is used for a community purpose chosen by the shareholders. The shop sells a wide range of goods including groceries, household goods, frozen food, newspapers etc. It aims to provide produce from the local area and to support local initiatives. The shop is open every day and provides a focal point for the village being a source of social support, information exchange as well as retail outlet. The Post Office is open for 4 hours a week.
The most recent expansion of the community project is the purchase of a mobile kitchen with funds raised by the community and a grant from Cadwyn Clwyd. This can be taken by the shop to provide hot and cold food at shows and events as well as being available for hire. It provides a further asset for the community as well as another source of fund raising for the project. The project now employs a manager and staff for the shop and mobile but also relies heavily on volunteers to work with them. The continuation of the project also depends on the work of the voluntary management committee and the community who support our fund raising activities such as the Christmas fair.
Information from Clawddnewydd Siop-Y-Fro http://www.clawddnewydd.org.uk/about_us.htm
Post office reopens after village campaign
A village post office in Denbighshire is set to reopen after a campaign by the local community - ahead of a multi million pound government rescue package for rural branches.
Five years ago residents of Clawddnewydd near Ruthin lost their facility, which acted as the only shop in the village. However, after much campaigning and a community fundraising project the post office is set to reopen.Villager Dewi Griffiths belongs to the local committee who helped set up the new shop and community centre. The store is the only one in Clawddnewydd and is staffed voluntarily by local people."It''s been nearly five years now since the post office and shop shut in the village, we opened this shop in February and it''s been growing steadily," said Mr Griffiths."The shop initially was funded through fundraising and we''ve had a lot of support from Denbighshire council. "Now the shop is up and running we approached the post office and asked if they would support us and they''ve decided to go with us."
Mr Griffiths said people are badly affected by post office closures."It is very difficult, especially for the aged members of the community to go and get their pensions."It''s nice to see the tide turning and any money going back into the countryside is welcomed." Denbighshire councillor Errol Williams said the community shop has been well received by local people.He said that if the shop did not exist then residents would be forced to travel to Ruthin, which is around six miles away.
Article from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2329555.stm
15 October 2002