Timeline & Events

THE Journey so far

The development of our plans for a community shop and café has been a long and complex process. The following timeline illustrates our main achievements to date.

Collapsible content

December 2024

Awarded Community Shares Standard Mark ensuring investors that our share offer meets national standards of good practice.

November 2024

Pop-up shop & Farmers' market at the village hall, building relationships with suppliers for our future shop.

October 2024

3 members of the shadow steering committee attended the annual Plunkett Conference in London to gain professional insights and inspiration from other community enterprises and experts in the sector.

June 2024

  • KCS&C had a stall at Kirtlington Fete keeping the villagers up to date on pledges and donations and presenting the plans to new villagers and the visiting wider community.
  • Heads of Terms for the sub-lease with Kirtlington Parish Council agreed and signed on 10th June.

April 2024

Kirtlingtonshop.org.uk website launch

March 2024

Ongoing lease negotiation with KPC

Feb 2024

  • Further development of Business Plan and cash flow documents 
  • Formed Community Benefit Society
  • Exploratory meeting with new operators of the Dashwood to discuss possibility of operating from their premises, but space offered not big enough
  • Confirmation from the Dashwood Landowner that he cannot guarantee a long enough lease (see FAQs)

Jan 2024

  • Continued community engagement with steering committee article in the Village News

Nov 2023

  • Winter Farmers’ Market in Village Hall showcasing likely shop offerings 
  • KCS&C management committee secretary appointed
  • Planning application approved
  • KCS&C management committee agreed Model Rules 
  • Community Benefit Society formed 
  • Registration with Financial Conduct Authority

Oct 2023

  • Meeting with KPC to go through all documentation to date

Sept 2023

  • Planning application submitted to Cherwell District Council

August 2023

  • Meeting to discuss planning application
  • Highway Report regarding access routes commissioned 

July 2023

  • Members of steering group attended Plunkett annual conference

June 2023

  • Updated Business Plan sent to KPC
  • Smiths of Bletchingdon donated £2000 to be spent on Plunkett services
  • Village Fete stall for community engagement with tombola, and strawberries and cream keeping the shop/cafe in villagers’ minds

May 2023

  • Summer Farmers’ Market on proposed site next to Village Hall showcasing likely shop offerings
  • prepared detailed Project Plan 

April 2023

  • David Miskin (Plunkett Foundation) advice meeting

Feb 2023

  • Village survey conducted by team of volunteers. Community engagement leaflet delivered to all Kirtlington households.
  • Steering group met to discuss results of questionnaire. Published in April/May issue of Kirtlington Village News.

Jan 2023

  • Meeting with David Miskin from Plunkett Foundation to get advice on Business Plan, financial reports, timeline and liabilities should shop fail 
  • Logo finalised

2022

  • Village Hall meeting to discuss shop with market research already collected from village and sketches of proposed shop
  • Reps from Tackley and Islip community shops tell their experiences
  • First meeting of interested villagers
  • Analysis of Wigginton Community Shop and Café Business Plan for guidance
  • Made contact with Plunkett Foundation
  • Village Fete stall which showcased local produce that we might sell in the shop, gave more information about our plans and asked for more support from villagers
  • Kirtlington Community Shop & Café (KCS&C) Steering Committee formed. Chair, Treasurer and Secretary appointed
  • Visit to Wigginton Community shop
  • Andrew Smith from Tackley attended meeting to offer advice
  • In an endeavour to address Kirtlington Parish Council’s concerns about the proposed location for the shop, the steering committee met to consider adapting the Sports Corridor at the Village Hall
  • Andrew Banks presented prospective plans for the shop at a steering group meeting.
  • Meeting with KPC where plan to use sports corridor for shop were rejected and it was agreed to move forward with new build option

Recent Events

  • Worthy Farm

    Worthy Earth

    Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • General provisions

    At the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Woodstock brewery

    Woodstock Brewery

    Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Baked Goods

    Produced on-site at the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Twisted Root

    Local artisan at the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Home Cooked Curries

    Delicious hot food available at the November 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Hampton Gay Farm

    Local producers at the May 2023 Farmer's Market

  • North Aston Dairy at Kirtlington Farmer's Market

    North Aston Dairy

    Local producers at the May 2023 Farmer's Market

  • Bibury trout farm at the kirtlington farmer's market

    Bibury Trout Farm

    Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market