Community shares
Capital at risk — please be aware of the risks associated with investing in community shares.
All or nothing
This project needs 100% of its target
Capital at risk — please be aware of the risks associated with investing in community shares.
This project aims to establish a sustainable, community-owned village shop to serve the residents of Kilve, Holford and the surrounding area
For a community of around 1,000 people — many elderly, many without easy access to a car — that meant a 6 to 12 mile round trip for a pint of milk. Along an A39 that isn't safe to walk. With no reliable public transport. For some residents, it meant going without.
This is our chance to bring it back. Not just as a shop, but as something better: a community-owned hub that belongs to everyone who uses it.
Kilve Community Shop will be a not-for-profit, community-owned shop run as a Community Benefit Society. That means it will be owned and governed by its members — local people, visitors, anyone who buys a share. One member, one vote. No outside shareholders. No profit extracted from the community.
The shop will stock everyday essentials, fresh produce, local farm products, and household goods, with a particular focus on supporting local suppliers. It will be run by a part-time manager and a trained volunteer team, located centrally in the village and open seven days a week.
Beyond the retail offer, it will be a place for people to connect — something that matters as much as the bread and butter it sells.
We need £130,000 to construct the building, fit it out, stock the shelves, and get trading. Here's where that funding is coming from:
Somerset Community Foundation has pledged £50,000 — but only if we raise £15,000 through this share offer first. That makes every share purchase count twice: it builds the shop, and it unlocks the grant.
We're also applying to the Fairfield Trust and other funders to bridge the rest. The stronger our community support, the stronger our case.
Shares are £1 each. You can invest anything from £10 to £3,000. Whatever you can spare helps — but if you're in a position to invest more, it makes a real difference to reaching our target.
Every investor becomes a member of Kilve Community Shop Benefit Society. You get a say in how it's run, and you become part of the reason it exists.
The shop that was here before turned over £350,000 in its final year. The demand is there. The community is ready. We just need to build it.
Funding method
All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £15,000 by 1st August 2026 at 12:00pm