People power takes over

A community is on the verge of having a community-owned not-for-profit shop following the closure of the much-loved village store. 

Grants from Greencoat Drone Hill Community Fund and Foresight Kinegar Community Fund will help Cockburnspath Community Enterprise Limited (CCEL) get the shop started. 

CCEL has just launched a community share offer to complete the funding needed.

The village of Cocksburnpath lies south of Dunbar off the A1 and when the store unexpectedly closed in December 2019, it left a gaping hole in village life. 

Not only had it been the only shop for several miles, it was also crucial to the social fabric of the village.  Working together, the Community Council, a Community Development Facilitator (also funded by Foresight Kinegar Community Fund) and local residents formed CCEL to find an alternative.

CCEL, a community benefits society, is leasing the site adjacent to Cockburnspath Village Hall and football field in the heart of the village.  A modular building will be placed on the site for three years until a permanent structure can be found or built.  CCEL’s thorough market research indicates it will also attract new custom from walkers as they start or end the Southern Upland Way, and tourists from nearby caravan parks and cottages. 

Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager at Foundation Scotland said:  “We are delighted to have played a small but timely part in CCEL’s immense work to launch a community-owned shop in Cockburnspath. 

“There is good evidence that the shop will help attract and retain residents, whilst helping showcase local crafts and produce, and overall contribute to the vibrancy of the Co’Path & Cove community.  That is exactly what local Community Funds are for.”

CCEL launched its Community Share Offer on 9 November.  Each share is £10 and no individual can buy shares above £2,500.  Community shares are different from regular shares – they cannot be sold for profit, but may be withdrawn under certain conditions or transferred in the event of the purchaser’s death. 

Richard Copland, Chair of CCEL, views them as a vital part of the funding jigsaw: “We are now on the last leg.  Since our village store closed in February this year, we’ve worked tirelessly amongst the Covid restrictions to get this far.  The final hurdle is to secure much needed working capital to get the Community Shop across the finishing line.  Anyone who purchases a Community Shares will have a say in running the enterprise as a Shareholder”.

Administered by Foundation Scotland, the Foresight Kinegar Fund is contributing £5,000 for the aggregate used for site levelling, whilst Greencoat Drone Hill Community Fund granted £10,000 for the accessible toilet facilities, chillers and freezers to be installed in the shop. 

In the backdrop of Covid restrictions, the new Community Shop will be a focal point for enhancing the local economy, creating local employment, reducing car journeys and encouraging walking. 

Saadat Ullah, Technical Portfolio Manager from Foresight Group, is pleased to that community benefit funds from the local wind farm are making a difference in the area.

“We’re delighted to hear that Foresight Kinegar (Cockburnspath & Cove) Community Fund will help in establishing the community-owned shop in Cockburnspath.  We understand that local shops can act as an integral hub to a community and we are glad to see that the Community Funds will help in promoting local produce and crafts.”