Rural retail business charity Plunkett UK has just been awarded £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland.
The money will go towards strengthening the national charity’s support for community-owned shops across Scotland, it said.
There are currently more than 50 community-owned shops in Scotland, with some serving some of the country’s most remote rural and island communities.
The funding will also help Plunkett UK provide more support for both planned and existing stores to increase their “retail knowledge and help them remain resilient and viable at a challenging time for retailers,” it said.
Lifeline for stores
As well as giving access to everyday essentials, they can provide important local services, support jobs and volunteering and bring people together.
The new funding will allow Plunkett to build on its existing specialist support for community-owned shops through training, opportunities to share knowledge and advice tailored to the needs of trading businesses, it said.
It also supports the charity’s 2026-31 strategy, which places an increased focus on helping existing community businesses to remain strong and sustainable, alongside supporting new ones to start.
Diane Cameron, business support team leader at Plunkett UK, said: “Community-owned shops make a real difference to rural communities, particularly in remote areas and on Scotland’s islands, where they can provide much more than somewhere to buy everyday essentials.
“This funding will help us strengthen the support we already provide, giving shops more opportunities to build their retail knowledge, learn from each other and plan for the future. Plunkett is there for the life of a community business, supporting shops through the opportunities and challenges that come with trading.”
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