The extra community benefits of shopping at the Candover Valley Store
By choosing to shop with your local community store, you are not only supporting the viability of a valuable community asset but building up reserves to support future community projects.
The principle
Under the rules of The Candover Valley Community Store Ltd any profits made will, once sufficient reserves have been established, be reinvested into the community enabling CVCS to fund and support other local projects.
The idea of the fund is to enhance community spirit, bring local people together and build strong relationships across the community. The fund aims to help support local organisations and improve the places and spaces that matter to members of the community.
How the fund works
At the end of each financial year, the CVCS committee reviews any surplus funds, after provision has been made for reinvestment and reserves, and makes a sum available for community projects within the defined catchment area (see map). This process will always be retrospective to ensure the ongoing viability of the store is protected. The sum available each year will depend on store performance and there may be years when there is no community funding available.
Projects eligible for support
Examples include:- start-up overheads; equipment; one-off staff costs; transport; one-off events; landscaping; small capital projects may all apply for support from the fund.
So for example, if a local scout group, play group, gardening club, church group or community organisation in the catchment area requires funding for equipment or a particular project, they can apply to the Candover Valley Store’s Community Project Fund. An application form is filled in and full details given about the project. It will be important to demonstrate how the project will benefit a community group. The project’s progress will be monitored by the committee to ensure all necessary protocols are followed.
Project performance and results will be reported at the AGM of the Candover Valley Store.
Projects not eligible for support
Examples of what cannot be funded are:- on-going salaries; alcohol; statutory activities (eg. supplies for education which should be provided as part of the syllabus); items or services already paid for; projects outside the catchment area; individual cases of hardship relief.
Catchment area
A project must fall within the designated catchment area which is largely the area within a 5- mile radius of Preston Candover (south of the M3) taking in the villages of Dummer, Farleigh Wallop, Cliddesden, Ellisfield, Bradley, Upper and Lower Wield, Swarraton, Totford, Northington, Woodmancott, East Stratton, Brown Candover, Chilton Candover, Axford and Nutley (see map of catchment area).
The process of application
The aim is to make the application process as simple and as accessible as possible. Applications can be submitted at any time but will be considered by the CVCS committee at two meetings each year, in February and August.
To apply, please download the principles and process document and read it through to check your project qualifies. Then download the application form, complete and submit with any supporting documentation (such as plans, photographs and maps). If help is required completing the form or if you require further information or wish to discuss a project before applying, please contact CVCS committee member Jocelyn Rogerson – jocelyn26 @ hotmail.co.uk or call 01256 389611.
Download the documents …
