Community Business Leaders Programme

Katy Bevan was a member of the committee of Chalford Village Shop when she joined our south west cohort.

Chalford Community Shop provides fresh produce and food to the village of Chalford in Gloucestershire, a neighbourhood who were at risk of losing this vital local amenity. This co-operative held a community share offer to raise the capital to maintain and grow its offer.

Plymouth Energy Community’s mission is to give the people of Plymouth the power to transform how they buy, use and generate power in the city. Their work focuses around three core energy goals: Reducing energy bills for households; improving energy efficiency of housing stock; and generating a green energy supply in the city.

Jenny Coles, Project Developer at PEC, joined our south west cohort.

@Plymenergycom

Determined to keep a bookshop in the town, the local community rallied to set up Crediton Community Bookshop which, besides stocking a huge array of title, runs events, hosts authors and book fairs and a local literary festival. The team have recently secured a grant from Power to Change to enable them to move to larger premises on the High Street. The bookshop has over 300 community shareholders.

Andrew Davey joined our south west cohort.

@Credbooks

Onion Collective are not-for-profit Community Interest Company, taking an enterprising approach to improving community and environmental well-being in the north Somerset town of Watchet, and beyond. Onion Collective's goal is to operate a portfolio of exciting, successful, sustainable and mutually supporting projects - all for community benefit. They recently re-opened the town’s Boat Museum after a refurbishment and the development of a new visitor centre.

Naomi Griffith, one of Onion Collective’s Directors joined our south west cohort.

@OnionCollective

Based in an iconic building at the centre of the town, The Poly (once The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society) is a thriving community business which has been at the heart of Falmouth since 1833, promoting engagement in the arts, sciences and Cornish history, through film live events, exhibitions, lectures and workshops.

Judith Hann, Chief Executive of The Poly, joined our south west cohort

@PolyFalmouth

Stonehouse Action are a residents’ collective from the Stonehouse area of Plymouth who are working with the local community to regenerate the streets and buildings, create new opportunities and celebrate the area with events such as their annual street party. Their latest project, Union Corner, has seen the group creating a community space in an empty shop on Union Street.

Wendy Hart joined our south west cohort.

@Stonehouse_Act

Determined to keep a bookshop in the town, the local community rallied to set up Crediton Community Bookshop which, besides stocking a huge array of title, runs events, hosts authors and book fairs and a local literary festival. The team have recently secured a grant from Power to Change to enable them to move to larger premises on the High Street. The bookshop has over 300 community shareholders.

Dee Lalljee, Manager joined our south west cohort.

@Credbooks

Coexist and their building Hamilton House – a five storey, previously disused building in the Stokes Croft area of the city – offer their community a diverse range of opportunities, including affordable work and event space, courses and classes, a bike repair shop and more, and is home to many social enterprises.

Jon Newey joined our south west cohort.

@HamiltonHouseBR

The Pantry Partnership in Salisbury uses food and cooking create social momentum, helping people out of food poverty, enhancing life skills and reducing social isolation. Their cook clubs, café and food growing schemes spring up across the city.

The Seed Community Wholefood Store and Café in Buckfastleigh, Devon is a pioneering venture to bring fresh and organic produce to everyone, regardless of the money in your pocket. It also aims to provide the opportunity for people to connect with others and the community around them through food and produce growing, in an attempt to reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing.

Sefton Paine, co-founder of The Seed joined our south west cohort.

Friends of Horfield Common is a community parks group and cafe run, and managed, by the local community. Their latest project, The Ardagh, is seeking an asset transfer of the local sports facilities to bring them into community ownership and reignite full community use.

Rob Savage, Project Coordinator joined our south west cohort.

@FOHC_Bristol

Coexist and their building Hamilton House – a five storey, previously disused building in the Stokes Croft area of the city – offer their community a diverse range of opportunities, including affordable work and event space, courses and classes, a bike repair shop and more, and is home to many social enterprises.

Petronella Tyson joined our south west cohort.

@HamiltonHouseBR