Volunteers are urgently needed to keep the community shop in the heart of Bishops Caundle open at weekends.
Bishops Caundle Village Store is run for the community by the community and relies ‘heavily’ on volunteers for support.
The shop opens every day, serving villagers with a good supply of newspapers, a bountiful supply of food, milk and essentials often organising home deliveries for those in need along with being the collection point for dry cleaning and laundry, and of course boasts a full community noticeboard.
An outreach Post Office runs from the store on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
Katie Gardner, who took over the shop in 2011, said: “Bishops Caundle Community Shop serves the village and local community as well as passing trade. We rely heavily on volunteers keep the shop open, both during the week and especially at weekend. Volunteering is a great way to get out in the community, meet new people and help to ensure a vital service is kept in the village.
“Supporting local suppliers is an important part of our shop, and we stock a range of Else’s pasties and pies, Oxfords bread is delivered daily throughout the week
By Karen Bate
karen@westdorsetmag.co.ukas well as fresh whole milk from Woodbridge Farm. It’s not only fresh produce, as we also stock Blackmore Vale Honey, Saucy Cow Artisan Sauces, and even Kinder Kindling to name a couple.
“We also deal with independent wholesalers where we can, and lucky to have great service from Whole Range Foods being just down the road.”
And now West Dorset MP Chris Loder is supporting Katie’s call for more volunteers to join the happy crew and keep the shop open at weekends.
He said: “I am an ardent supporter of our small businesses and village shops, many of which rely on volunteers to stay open. Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to meet new people.”
Bishops Caundle Community Shop are ideally looking for volunteers at weekends on a Saturday or Sunday from 7:30am to 10:30am.
If you could help, pop in to talk with Katie Gardner, to find out more.