Village Core Programme

The demise of the village shop and Post Office in England is well documented, and people in many rural communities have no alternative but to travel to purchase even the most routine household items.

In June 2006, Esmée Fairbairn’s Trustees agreed a grant of £1 million over three years to the Plunkett Foundation, a leading promoter of rural issues. The grant, alongside loan funding from Co-operative and Community Finance and development assistance from the Village Shops Retail Association (ViRSA), a group run by the Plunkett Foundation, will provide start-up packages which will comprise a grant of up to £20,000, complemented by a similar contribution from the community and a loan of at least the same amount from Co-operative and Community Finance.

This will, among other things, provide a valuable service to the most disadvantaged in rural communities. Details of the programme were announced at the Plunkett Foundation's annual general meeting at Blenheim Palace on 20 July 2006.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is not currently accepting applications to support the work of village shops. All such requests should be directed to ViRSA.

Village Core Programme launch press release, July 2006 (Word)


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