Popular village shop marks 10-year anniversary

A Somerset village shop is celebrating 10 years in business after being set up by residents to save a vital service when the original shop faced closure.

Spaxton Community Stores opened in 2014 following a five-year campaign to secure its future and quickly became more than just a place to buy groceries.

Volunteer Vernon Hughes, who has been involved since the beginning, said: "It seems to have gone by so fast.

"It has been 10 years since we've been open and five years before that just thinking it up. So, in reality, it has been a long time."

When the original shop was set to be closed, the village faced the loss of a crucial community hub.

Mr Hughes explained: "The facility was important to the village, it was being lost. A group of us just got together and said, 'well, we can do this ourselves'."

Since then, the shop has grown into a thriving hub, offering a post office, stocking local produce, and serving as a place for villagers to connect.

Volunteer and shop committee chair, Cath MacAdam, who joined the shop as a volunteer12 years ago, said the shop's social impact had been just as significant as its practical benefits.

"It has just been a fantastic asset to the village, and I think it has enriched everyone's lives," she said.

"All of the people who come in every day to pick up a paper, pick up milk, and those of us whose memories aren't good and forget things can come in and be there."

The shop remained open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, helping residents access essentials safely, which Ms MacAdam said had been "an absolute lifesaver" for many residents.

"Our manager put systems in place and made sure everyone felt safe," she said. "A lot of people used us then, and that has benefited us since."

With about 50 volunteers, the store also supports the community by providing grants to local schools and clubs.

"We are mindful that we have to future-proof the shop," Ms MacAdam explained. "We need to make a profit just to keep going, but we want to put back into the community what the community puts into the shop."

With growing demand, the shop is now facing space challenges, and there are calls for more volunteers to ensure its future.

"This generation has created the shop and got it running, but we need a new team to take it forward," Ms MacAdam added.

"A community cafe would be brilliant, but it needs new people to come and do that."

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