Background
Chiddingly had a wonderful old-fashioned village shop for over 100 years located a stone’s throw from the Six Bells pub and the church. It closed down in 1998 when the owners eventually retired and no-one could be found to take it on. About 10 years later, a campaign was mounted to set up a new shop, this time to be community-owned and run. Thanks to contributions from many locals in exchange for shares, as well as grants from several organisations, a new shop was created in a new location (Farleys Yard, Muddles Green – opposite Farleys Gallery) yet still within the environs of Chiddingly.
It opened in August 2012 so in 2017 we celebrated a big milestone – its fifth anniversary!
However, after over five years, the shop’s original sign was getting shabby, so in 2018 it was replaced with a shiny new version. More recently we have added an all weather umbrella making the patio useable all year around, come rain or shine.
Chiddingly Village Shop & Cafe is staffed by a paid part-time manager, paid Saturday staff (providing first employment opportunities for younger people in the village), and a team of volunteers who work behind the counter, behind the scenes and as part of a management committee.
Volunteering
Our volunteers come from all walks of life and span a wide age range, but they all share an enthusiastic commitment to the shop and derive great satisfaction from volunteering. And without them, our lovely community shop & cafe would not exist!
Working in the shop is an excellent way to get to know new people, both within the village and from some distance away.
You’re never too old to learn new things and everyone who works behind the counter has mastered our coffee machine and our till, and has also taken a basic food hygiene course. Those who are busy during shop hours, or prefer to help in other ways, offer their services for free in ways such as marketing, keeping our window boxes and café vases freshly maintained, organising fundraising activities, taking a role on the shop committee, or even cooking winter soups for the café.
Could you or someone you know spare 2-4 hours per week to volunteer in our friendly community shop & cafe? Full training provided, and you’re welcome to do a trial shift to see if you like it. We can adapt to suit your availability and look forward to welcoming you on board! If you’re interested, please pop by and let us know, or email Sue at: manager@chiddinglyshop.org
Five Star Rating
Following our Food Safety & Hygiene inspection, we were very pleased to be awarded another 5-star rating (the highest possible) from the Food Standards Agency. A big thank you to all our volunteers for maintaining the high standards at all times, and to local Food Safety expert Suzanne Goss for training all our volunteers and keeping us up to date with the ever-changing health & safety regulations.
Purchasing Shares
Did you know that you can purchase shares in Chiddingly Shop & Cafe? One share costs just £10 but every investment helps us to sustain and develop the shop and cafe for many years to come.
To find out more click on the links below.
The Chiddingly Community Shop Limited Community Share Offer Information
Model Rules for Community Ownership
Click the link below to see the latest accounts for Chiddingly Shop & Cafe (year ending March 2023)
Chiddingly Shop EOY Accounts March 31 2023
