Henham Community Shop
Services Offered
The shop sells general grocery products and bread. It is also licensed to sell wine, beer spirits, etc. It has a post office attached. It does not sell newspapers, except by order on Sundays.
How a community shop was created
On May 22nd 1998 at an open meeting held in Henham Village Hall, the Chairman of the Parish Council announced that the only shop in the village, including the Post Office, would be closing as the owners had been unable to fulfil their wish to sell or lease the business. The meeting was asked whether there was a wish to explore the possibility of opening a community shop on a leasing arrangement from the present owners who wanted to remain in the village. There was considerable enthusiasm for the suggestion and it was agreed that a further meeting would be held when an interim committee had had the opportunity to evaluate the chances of success and to produce a realistic budget. In the meantime, the owners would run down the business and the shop would close its doors around the middle of September.
On December 15th, the shop was re-opened as a community project with the post office open six mornings a week. During that seven month period from the first meeting, activity was frenetic as research was undertaken, finances arranged, volunteer help organised and structural alterations to the premises completed.
The first step was to establish whether the village really wished to retain a shop and Post Office and whether enough people were prepared actively to participate in such a venture. A questionnaire was sent to every home asking whether any member(s) of the household would undertake specific work such as being a volunteer worker in the shop, serve on the committee, help with marketing and so on. In addition all were asked whether they would be prepared to make an interest free loan (amount to be specified). There was a 25% response and virtually all signalled a willingness to help physically and/or financially.
Article by Barry Tate.
Read more at http://www.henham.org/how_a_community_shop_was_created.htm
If you would like to contact a member of the Henham Village Shop Association Ltd committee, please send the request via the website contact on http://www.henham.org/community_shop.htm.