The village of Kirkmichael in rural Perthsire was in danger of losing its local shop. Keen to keep this vital amenity, a group of local people joined together to establish a community interest company (CIC).
An award of £35,000 from the Drumderg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, funded by SSE, allowed the newly formed community interest company, Strathardle Trading CIC to retain the village shop as a viable trading outlet. The shop now provides six local jobs, somewhere to buy groceries, a post office, café and petrol outlet in the village of Kirkmichael. It has been an overwhelming success and directly benefits over 1,000 people living in the surrounding area.
Sally Gingell, manager of the Kirkmichael shop, says:
“Throughout the whole of the procedure we have found the Drumderg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to be flexible and pragmatic, while at the same time ensuring the money is used in a proper manner. The end result is our village shop and post office saved. Our community has a new lease of life.”
Since the transfer of the business to community ownership, the level of community investment, both in terms of financial contributions and volunteer activity, has grown. The local shop has become a community hub where people not only shop, but meet to exchange views and publicise local events.
Scottish Community Foundation provided support and advice to the Drumderg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.