Become a Friend of Kirtlington Shop

Can you help us raise funds to restore a village shop and café to our community by becoming one of our Friends?

The Friends of Kirtlington Shop group enables anyone to show support by making a donation to the project. As a Friend you will receive updates and invitations to some of our fundraising events. 

This project is an example of an exciting wider picture of community ownership happening across the UK with the sector growing by 70% in the last 10 years with a total of 828 community owned businesses trading as at the close of 2024. Community businesses in the UK have a long-term survival rate of 94%. By contrast, in the last five years only 39% of new small commercial enterprises have survived. 

Future profits from the trading shop and café will be used to enhance other community ventures, helping to strengthen and grow the experience of living in the village and surrounding area. 

Why Donate?

A group of residents living in the beautiful village of Kirtlington has established a Community Benefit Society to build and run a village shop and café. The business will be owned and run by the community; any profits will be used for the benefit of the community. 

The last village shop closed in 2020. Many villagers believe a local shop is an essential element of a resilient, vibrant, sustainable and inclusive community. As in many other villages that have lost their retail businesses, we are concerned about the increased social isolation and lack of access to locally grown and produced supplies.

Public transport in Kirtlington is extremely limited. The only way to pick up provisions is to drive or cycle to the Co-op in the next village. Whilst ours seems a relatively affluent village there is a large proportion of elderly/vulnerable people, many of whom live alone. There are also a lot of people working from home. Yet there is no shop to pop into for provisions like milk/bread and locally produced goods nor is there a local café where people can just drop in for coffee and a chat.

We need to raise £275,000 to build the shop on land which has been leased to us rent free. A recent share offer has enabled local villagers, and some outsiders, to invest in shares in the project. As of February 2026 we have 220 investors. We currently need another £50,000 to be able to open for business.

If you would like to join us as a Friend of the project then please complete the short form below and follow the guidance for payment.