Community shop in Barrowden nominated for Countryside Alliance award

A shop staffed by volunteers from the community it serves has been nominated for a Countryside Alliance Award.

The Shop in Wakerley Road, Barrowden, opens seven days a week selling local produce and essentials, as well as crafts, gifts, paintings and greetings cards.

It is managed by Helen Coop and David Lewis, who help co-ordinate a team of about 40 volunteers, as well as providing work experience for local teenagers and Duke of Edinburgh Award hopefuls.

Helen said: “When the Countryside Alliance got in touch to say we had been nominated it came as a surprise - we don’t know who nominated us.

“The reason for the nomination, I’m told, is because The Shop is about helping the community where we can, and being part of it.

“It’s a great facility for the village and by volunteering people get to know one another better, which is useful, especially for those who live alone.

“We try to have a range of goods in stock despite not having a huge floorspace, and we try to support local craftspeople.”

Last month The Shop was a runner up at the Rutland and Melton Independent Shop Awards.

People can vote for The Shop to win the Village Shop or Post Office category of the Countryside Alliance Awards by clicking tinyurl.com/TheShopBarrowden.

Plans drawn up before covid to merge the community shop with the village hall and a GP surgery in Barrowden were dropped due to funding issues, but a new village hall has been built and is due to open on March 21.