The Heart of our Village…
Introduction
“Hello and welcome to the website of Clapham Village Store. My name is Helen Rollinson and I have been the manager of the shop since it reopened as a community store in 2015. Also on the team are Niki Harris, William Dawson, and around 40 volunteers. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our shop and the services it provides and we enjoy welcoming local residents and visitors. We hope to see you soon!”
Join our Team
Nearly all our staff are volunteers and they provide an outstanding service, helping with the smooth running of every aspect of shop life and ensuring that customers receive a warm welcome and are well looked after.
New volunteers are always welcome. No previous experience is necessary as training and support is provided. All that’s required is enthusiasm, a good sense of humour and a few spare hours, you can do as many or as few shifts as you want - whether it is once a week or once a month.
Our volunteers have reported many benefits to working at the shop. It provides an opportunity to learn to new skills, meet new people, become a member of our award-winning shop team and give something back to the community.
None of us are there because we have to be, we are there because we want to be. This makes it a great place to volunteer.
If you would like more information and have a few hours a week to spare, please ask at the shop.
Click here to read more about being a volunteer.
If you want to be involved - contact Helen - the manager by email, phone or in person.
Become a Shareholder
As a community enterprise, Clapham Community Store Ltd is owned by shareholders, all of whom have committed to materially supporting the existence and continued development of the shop. Shareholders are the foundation of the shop and all that it stands for. Most see their involvement as an important contribution or legacy—a chance to play an important role in a community enterprise that has become the heart of the village. Many have generously chosen to make this a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit the community in perpetuity.
We welcome new shareholders from anywhere at any time. The minimum shareholding is £10.00.
Your involvement will help ensure the successful future of our shop. For more information see
For a copy of our prospectus click here
To download application form click here
Committee
We have a management committee of up to 12 shareholders, most of whom actively volunteer in the shop. Each member brings a particular area of knowledge or expertise.
The Management Committee is elected at our Annual General Meeting. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please contact Harriet Naden by email.
History of the shop
The current site of the shop on Main Street has long been a village store. In early 2014 the opportunity arose to take on the privately-run village store as a community owned and managed enterprise. There was widespread consultation and support for the proposal culminating in the community coming together to provide funding, expertise and voluntary help as well as the necessary energy and inspiration to turn the proposal into reality. This was an immense achievement.
A refurbished and re-stocked premises opened in March 2015, as Clapham Village Store. It exceeded all expectations by returning a profit at the end of the second year of trading and has continued to go from strength to strength. Its achievements have been widely recognised and it has won a number of awards celebrating its community focus and voluntary service, including the Queen’s Award for Volunteering in 2019.
The community project has received support, at all stages, from local residents, the Parish Council, Clapham Association and the Clapham Sustainability Group. The Plunkett Foundation (a charity specialising in the the development of rural community services) provides expert training and advice and the Ingleborough Estate, which owns the premises, has provided ongoing support including the extension of the retail area at the back of the shop.
Improvements have included extension and remodelling of the retail space, the refurbishment of the upstairs to provide ancillary office space and the transformation of the garden to the rear of the shop into an attractive seating area.
The store and its team have been the recipients of numerous awards, including:
January 2016: Craven District Council Community Champion Awards 2015 - 'Best Social Enterprise'.
January 2017: Craven District Council Community Champion Awards 2016 - 'Best Community Group in Craven'.
October 2017: Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) 20 Year Anniversary Award for Rural Enterprise and Employment.
December 2017: 'Runner up' by the Plunkett Foundation for Community Co-operative of the Year in Yorkshire & North East England.
June 2019: Our shop and its enthusiastic community of volunteers received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, 2019. This is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK in recognition of outstanding work done in their own communities. It is the MBE for volunteer groups.