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.
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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
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Worthy Earth
Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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General provisions
At the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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Woodstock Brewery
Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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Baked Goods
Produced on-site at the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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Twisted Root
Local artisan at the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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Home Cooked Curries
Delicious hot food available at the November 2023 Farmer's Market
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Hampton Gay Farm
Local producers at the May 2023 Farmer's Market
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North Aston Dairy
Local producers at the May 2023 Farmer's Market
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Bibury Trout Farm
Local producers at the November 2023 Farmer's Market