From May 2019 – September 2020 many activities have taken place to progress the project
May 2019 – Parish council member forms Frittenden Community Shop & Café Committee (FCS&CC)
June 2019 – Plunkett Foundation https://plunkett.co.uk/about-us/ contacted and application made for support (The Plunkett Foundation supports rural communities to establish community projects).
June 2019 – Plunkett Foundation application accepted and 15 hours of support allocated to project
July 2019 – Village Survey including parents with children at primary & pre-school
September 2019 – village survey results collated
Summer/Autumn 2019 – Barham, Chart Sutton, Benenden community shops visited to meet management teams
Autumn 2019 – consultation with Gulland Solicitors regarding location of shop on Memorial Hall land given its charitable status
Autumn 2019 – Location of community shop finalised on Memorial Hall land
November 2019 – Public meeting by FCS&CC to present survey results
December 2019 – Presentation by FCS&CC to Memorial Hall on scope of project
January 2020 – Meeting with Eileen Bridges from Acorn Stores
January 2020 – Quotation requests for buildings sent out
January 2020 – 15 hours of Plunkett support taken with local advisor from ACRE
February 2020 – Study visit organised with a Plunkett advisor to meet management team at Detling Community Shop
Spring 2020 – Steering group with key skills formed within FCS&CC
Spring 2020 – Pre application planning meeting with TWBC
Spring 2020 – Preparation for community event cancelled due to COVID-19
Summer 2020 – Compilation of financial figures for shop (profit & loss, cashflow forecasts, capital expenditure etc)
Summer 2020 – Discussions with Sean & Rosie Croucher re Stable Stores operation and future plans
Summer 2020 – additional funded support allocated by Plunkett following COVID-19.
Summer 2020 – meetings with Plunkett to discuss project timeline, forming a Community Benefit Society, and external funding possibilities
September 2020 – launch of Community shop website
September 2020 – reconvened community event