Author: Parracombe Community Stores
Vacancy – Pavilion Stores and Café
Parracombe Community Trust (PCT) is very excited to be launching the ‘Pavilion Stores and Café’. We are now seeking to appoint a Manager/Volunteer Coordinator.
- Do you have a genuine interest in working with the general public?
- Are you self-motivated with strong interpersonal skills?
- Are you passionate about delivering the best level of customer service?
The Role: The Manager/Volunteer Coordinator will oversee the operation and development of this community enterprise which comprises a shop and café. Going forward there is potential to include a Post Office facility. Smooth daily running of the shop is crucial to provide a high-quality, reliable customer service and ensure its long-term success through supporting the needs of its community.
Skills and Experience: Experience of working in a similar environment is desired along with excellent communication and customer service skills. Reporting to and supported by the PCT, responsibilities include managing a team of volunteers to work shifts in the shop, together with general shop management, financial and stock administration/control. Being committed to promoting the shop and having the ability to respond and adapt to change as the business evolves will be essential.
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week full-time. 2 part-time roles / job share would be considered. Flexible hours by negotiation.
Salary: £19,377 per annum for a full-time post, pro-rata for part-time.
Download the Person Specification and Job Description
To apply for the position please complete the application form below.
Closing date for applications is 5PM 19 November 2021.
Trust Launches Crowdfunder
Help us fit out the café
Our share offer raised a little over 86% of our target, what a fantastic result!
We still need more to give the project the best possible start. For friends, family and Parracombe supporters who want to help out we have created a Crowdfunding page with the Aviva Community Fund. The fund helps small charities and good causes like ours build stronger communities with fundraising support. This year they have teamed up with Crowdfunder to help organisations like ours raise money using their platform and also connect us with match funds.
With Crowdfunding we hope to raise at least £2000 with a stretch target of £5000.
We have also applied for match funding from DCC’s Community Chest and Devon and Cornwall Police Community Resilience Fund.
Village Stores Update June 2020
Since the last update in February, despite the disruption, we are moving ahead with our plans. However, the lock-down came in before we could arrange a physical meeting of the new committee to formally constitute. The new committee will be embracing the new norm of online meetings and will be electing a new chairperson, secretary and Parracombe Community Trust board representative very shortly.
Working with Wessex Community Assets we have focused on finalising the business and financial plan to be able to secure match funding and launch our community share offer. The business plan and financials had by early May been developed to a point where we felt confident to submit our formal application to the Community Shares Booster Programme for a share-for-share match investment. The application was submitted for their review mid-May and we received a series of recommendations for the business plan and financials to help us ensure we have the best possible chance to secure their investment. Those recommendations are currently being incorporated and the revised application will be reviewed for a formal decision 17 June. We are very confident of a successful outcome of that panel meeting. We are also continuing our grant funding applications to support capital building costs and capital running in the first years of operation.
The community share offer document has been developed and reviewed to meet the Community Shares Standard Mark. We need now to update the offer in line with the recommended changes in the business plan and adjust to the new offer timetable. The offer will be launched in August to raise an optimal target of £72,500 from community investments by the end of October. With share-for-share matching from the Booster Programme we will have the required £145,000 to complete the build and fit out. Our minimum target is £50,000, if we were to only achieve this amount then we will need rely on grant funding to support the capital costs of building, fit out and stocking.
On the planning side approval for planning was granted in March. You can review the planning application documents online. We are now working with our architect Will Bowden to complete the more detailed building control drawings and start to look at interior layout and finishes. With a timetable that has the shop opening in the Summer of 2021 we will be advertising very shortly for expressions of interest for construction.While these times are unprecedented and the future in so many ways is uncertain, the Trust board feel that the current situation has galvanised our community more than ever and our determination to proceed and make Parracombe Community Stores a success. Stay tuned for the share offer.
David Austin
Chair Parracombe Community TrustCommunity Stores Update Feb 2020
It’s been a while since the committee has put out an update of progress but that’s not to say progress is not being made, perhaps more slowly than we would like. Our main goals have been to finalise the business and financial plan, without which we will not be able to move forward with funding, develop our community share offer and secure planning approval for the project.
On the business planning side, we are working with Wessex Community Assets to further develop our business and financial plans and the share offer document. We are in the final stages of review and our community share offer document is awaiting Community Shares Standard Mark approval. We have applied for investment from the Community Shares Booster Programme. Under this programme, up to £100,000 is available to match applications for shares from the public. Gaining the Community Shares Standard Mark is a prerequisite to securing match funding from the Booster Programme, which is funded by Power to Change and run by the Community Shares Unit.
While the share offer will provide the core funding for the project, through the financial planning process we have determined that the share offer fundraising alone will not provide sufficient working capital to ensure the business has the best possible chance of success. To that end we have made a number of grant applications to secure additional funding. The process of applying for grant funding has involved a good deal more work and pushed our initial goal of opening in Spring of 2020 out towards the end of the year. The good news is that we have had invites from two grant providers to make full applications. Should our applications be successful, grants would fund some of the capital building costs and provide additional working capital so we can employ a full-time manager and volunteer coordinator. One of the grant providers has also indicated that they would welcome a wider project scope to include additional community assets such as the playground and perimeter path for the field. We will keep you up to date with funding progress and any changes to the scope of the project. We expect to launch the share offer in the Spring, stay tuned.
On the planning approval, the application for planning was submitted in November of 2019, we had hoped that it would have been on the agenda of the ENPA committee in January to enable us to move on with building regulation drawings. The positive news is that the application will be discussed at the 3 March meeting and that the planning officers are recommending approval of the application.
The shop committee currently consists of 7 members and we are always looking for more people to lend a hand. As a reminder all of the Trust committees are being reconstituted and to that end there’s a meeting on Wed 25 Feb at the village hall. The Trust is run by the community for the community so if you are able and interested in volunteering please do come along and put your name down for the shop, village hall or housing committee. If you are not able to come along to the meeting and would like to volunteer please let our secretary Nick Constable know.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more please get in touch.
David Austin
Chair Parracombe Community Trust
Parracombe Community Trust – Members Update January 2019
Dear Parracombe Community Trust Member,
Firstly, a big thank-you to everyone who attended the Special General Meeting on January 16th to elect a new Trust Board. We should also welcome the many new members who signed up on the evening – we now have a membership of 63 which is a fantastic result just six months into this new venture. A number of members couldn’t make the meeting and sent their apologies; this brief report will hopefully keep everyone appraised.
One of the key messages from the meeting was that, while the Board will be limited to eight people, any Trust member can be co-opted onto the committees steering its three main projects (shop, hall and affordable housing).
This means all members can play a key role in shaping these vital parts of our community. If you’d like more information about how to join a committee please email our membership secretary Alison Smith at or call on 01598 763679. Find out more about membership.
The newly elected Board:
- Dave Austin (chair)
- Nick Backhouse
- Nick Constable (secretary)
- Keith Denby
- Jeremy Holtom
- Sue Rawle
- Alison Smith (membership secretary)
- Tom Wilde (treasurer)
The Village Shop
The village shop is currently the Trust’s main focus. Initial drawings for conversion of the playing field pavilion are in process and consultation is ongoing with Exmoor National Park as the planning authority. The Board’s Shop Committee met this week and considered next steps, including applications for grant funding and more detailed designs for a formal planning application. Parking and footpaths may well form part of an overall master plan. The target opening for the shop is spring 2020 and, while this is ambitious, it is felt a deadline is essential to ensure the project doesn’t stall. Many of you have shown your support by pledging money towards start-up costs while others have promised to volunteer their time. Please do keep those offers coming – these are investments in our community and, ultimately, our quality of life.
The village hall
Parracombe Parish Council is now proud owner of the village hall. It is hoped a lease will be drawn up with the Community Trust Board who, as tenants, will be responsible for day-to-day management. A meeting of the Board’s Hall Committee was held on January 21st when various short-term improvements were discussed, e.g. better access to hot water, the need for a new lock on the disabled toilet and alteration of its window, proper flushing of the men’s loos and the installation of an electricity smart meter (to name but a few). Looking longer term moves will soon get underway to explore grants and funding streams.
At present the Village Hall Charity is being maintained as a separate and independent organisation and it has agreed – at least for the time being – to continue overseeing fundraising, paying essential bills and supervising hire. The Charity’s funds will be held separately although one trustee is also a member of the Hall Committee and can provide regular financial updates. Steps are underway to appoint at least one other trustee. Looking ahead, both the Charity and the PCT Board will seek legal advice to establish how closely they can co-operate while still complying with governance rules.
Affordable Housing
Good progress has been made in terms of identifying three potential sites in the village. The Board is in discussion with one of the landowners concerned but unless and until a formal agreement is made to acquire land it has been agreed that details should not be made public. The maximum price for purchasing affordable housing land is £7,000 per unit which is clearly below the amount a commercial developer would have to pay. The Board’s working assumption is that there will be a development of six affordable homes, allocated according to criteria which define an occupier’s local link and need. The precise criteria has not yet been drawn up but it is important to understand that it must at least conform to that already laid down by Exmoor National Park. It may also become necessary to allow one or two open-market homes (alongside the affordable ones) to attract a trusted developer and ensure good quality designs. That will be a matter of negotiation but whatever the final agreement Parracombe Community Trust will seek to benefit from ground rent income. And all the homes – affordable or not – will require any occupier or owner to have a local link and permanent occupancy. They cannot become second homes!
During the question-and-answer session following the Special General Meeting one member raised concerns that we may be taking on too much in one go. This is a fair point, but your Board feels it is quite possible to run the three key projects in tandem. Hall management will continue pretty much as usual and plans for major improvement work there will in any case need time for consideration and consultation. In the case of affordable housing the Board is effectively acting as fixer. Our role will be to ensure land ownership, contractual agreements and outline planning permission are all in place before appointing a developer – such as a housing association – to see the project through. Be assured, none of us are looking to pick up a hard hat, high-vis jacket and shovel!
So while we’ve taken on a lot we also have a clear idea of priorities. The shop has to be the main one because this is a service the community has actually lost. It will be a challenge but, given the superb support you have all shown, it is certainly achievable.
Once again, sincere thanks to all our members and supporters. While we do not intend to bombard you with updates, we will share any significant news with you as soon as we possibly can.
Best wishes,
Dave Austin
Chair
Parracombe Community Trust formation
The Community Land Trust steering committee are pleased to announce that the Parracombe Community Trust has been registered.
As part of the Parracombe Parish Plan, the Trust has been formed with the following aims, to:
- Maintain or improve the physical, social and economic infrastructure within the Parish of Parracombe;
- Advance education (particularly concerning asset based community development and enterprises with a community or environmental focus);
- Facilitate community ownership of renewable energy production;
- Promote and support the arts locally;
- Function in accordance with the legal definition of a Community Land Trust;
- Promote and protect local heritage;
- Hold land in trust for its community.
Community Land Trust Meeting April 2018
The following was presented by Wessex Community Land Trust Project to the Parracombe Community Land Trust
Village Shop and Post Office Progress – April 2018
The Parish Council is very keen to ensure that a village store and Post Office remains in Parracombe. Prior to the closure of the village stores in November 2017 a sub-committee of the council, with a number of co-opted volunteers, worked to assess the possibility of setting up a Community Shop and Post Office.
In June 2017 a preliminary questionnaire was send out to the community, results of which indicated that there was broad support for a community run store and post office. In September of 2017 a draft report (Community Shop Report first draft) was created by the sub-committee to outline a proposed scheme and assess its potential for success. The report provides an overview of community needs, competition, market opportunity, sample financial statement, assessment of possible locations and potential grant funding options.
Following the initial assessment and before further commitment to the project, it was clear that the PC committee needed to assess the level of voluntary and financial support available within the community to establish that such a project is feasible. At the PC meeting of 5 September 2017 it was resolved that the project should be part of the overall strategic parish plan and that a Community Land Trust should be formed into which the project would be incorporated. The Parish Council engaged with Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) and Wessex Community Land Trust Project for guidance and support in the creation of a parish plan and the formation of a trust.
In December of 2017 the Parish Council, in partnership with ENPA distributed a community questionnaire to seek the views of residents regarding key issues facing the village. In addition to finding out the level of support for the village stores, the questionnaire asked residents views on the village hall, recreation facilities and parking. The responses to the questionnaire are not only guiding the parish plan but have indicated that the level of financial and voluntary support for a community run village store is sufficient to make it a viable proposition.
The next step is the formation of a Community Land Trust (CLT) and an incorporated legal entity (most likely to be a Community Benefit Society). The Parish Council have called a public meeting at the RAOB village hall, April 12 at 7:30 to talk about the parish plan and to invite members of the community to learn more about Community Land Trusts and offer their support and ask for steering group volunteers. Representatives from Devon Communities Together, Wessex Community Land Trust Project and members of the Parish Council will be presenting and taking questions from residents about housing, the village store and other issues such as the village hall.
The Parish Council will report on the meeting proceedings and progress with the Community Land Trust at their next scheduled meeting Tuesday 1 May 2018.
Dave Austin (Cllr) Chair Village Shop Sub Committee
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