“RUNNING a shop might seem straight forward but it is actually quite time consuming,” explains Roger Pybus, vice chairman of Cilcain Community Shop’s management committee. “A lot of work has gone into making this a success but it’s working well and people seem really pleased.”

Following the closure of their only village shop in February 2018, the community of Cilcain came together and voted strongly to establish a community-owned shop and café within community-owned premises.

The previous shop closed after its owners, Kate and Simon Richards experienced a fall in trade, with the pair lamenting a drop in support from the local community.

“We’ve been trading since June now as a community shop, initially for half days, but recently full days on Wednesday through Saturday,” continues Roger. “The biggest challenge to longer opening hours is volunteer time during the school holidays and the time to train new volunteers, but if we continue trading at the current rate we should be turning over around £100,000 in our first year.”

As Roger admits, without substantial financial help at the shop’s outset, progress would not have been so quick.

About £10,000 was raised in an investment share sale, along with £2,000 in membership shares, received gifts of £3,400, a community council grant of £1,000 and a grant of £4,000 towards start-up costs to help encourage tourism in the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty area.

The committee also applied successfully to the Prince’s Countryside Fund for assistance to help employ staff in the shop.

Established by the Prince of Wales in 2010, the fund aims to enhance the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life, giving out grants twice a year to projects in rural areas across the UK, which can apply for funding of up to £50,000.

Every year the Fund gives out more than £1 million in funding, and can support projects for up to three years.

When it came to Cilcain, the fund agreed to cover the cost of a part-time manager, to ensure the smooth running of the shop and enable opening hours to increase as required.

Having opened for business on June 16 last year, the shop now sells newspapers, locally supplied ice cream, ready meals, dairy and meat products, as well as general groceries and household products.

There is a café in a cosy corner of the shop, selling coffees, teas and cakes, and a Post Office serves at the shop on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Details of the times of opening of the shop and Post Office, and other information, are on the dual language website, Siop Gymunedol Cilcain/Cilcain Community Shop.

“The shop particularly benefits those who have difficulty travelling outside the village for their every day needs,” continues Roger. “It also provides local employment - there is a part-time shop manager and two temporary staff helping to set up the infrastructure needed for the long-term success of the shop.

“The shop and café also provide a warm welcome to the many visitors, walkers and cyclists who come to enjoy the village and the surrounding countryside.

“The money from the Trust has allowed us to employ a part-time shop manager to oversee the operation and development of the new enterprise, with strong active support and guidance from the Shop Management Team.”

This week saw the Prince’s Countryside Fund window open for grant applications, which can be made up until February 21, 2019, with organisers particularly keen to hear from projects from rural Wales.

Claire Saunders, director of the Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “The 550 projects put forward to our Recharging Rural research last summer, demonstrated the extraordinary breadth of ideas that communities use to build their resilience, many of which our grant can support.

“Our grants help to support a diverse range of projects often delivered by local organisations, such as training vouchers for young farmers, equipment for local abattoirs, overheads and staffing costs for farmer-led networks, village shops and pubs, and development schemes for rural businesses. We give out more than £1 million in funding each year and are very keen to hear from projects of all types in our rural areas.”

Another project to benefit from the fund’s help is Groundwork North Wales, which works alongside local communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations to support communities in need.

Funding was awarded to provide up to 30 young people from Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire with the opportunity to improve their employment prospects through the delivery of three 12-week programs, with each participant having the opportunity to achieve three qualifications, including Lantra Level 2 Certificate in Land-based Activities, FAA Level 2 Health and Safety in the Workplace and FAA Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.

A number of projects regenerated and refreshed community spaces around Deeside, which included planting, hedging, fencing, completing raised beds, space clearance and general maintenance.

Participant Callum Hough said: “Groundwork North Wales have helped me build up my self-belief and leadership skills so I can be confident applying for jobs. I have made some great friends and the staff are really friendly and approachable. I am gutted the course is ending but I am looking forward to the future.”

HRH the Prince of Wales added: “I know from my travels around the country that there is a multitude of remarkable organisations and individuals working tirelessly to keep farmers farming and our rural communities alive.

“I have visited many of them and seen their work at first hand. Whether they are supporting farmers in need, helping maintain rural skills, carrying out vital conservation and restoration work, keeping the pubs and shops open that are so important in binding a community together, or helping to reconnect people to the land and where their food comes from, they are all helping to sustain its future.

“I believe those of us who love the countryside can make a real difference by supporting and extending these initiatives. That is why my Countryside Fund’s grants programme is supporting grassroots projects that are helping to create a vibrant, sustainable future for rural Britain.”

l To find out more and apply, visit www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grants