STUTTON COMMUNITY SHOP

Managed and run entirely
by volunteers for all the community

Situated just by
Stutton Community Hall
01473 328133

Open every day
Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5.30
Saturday & Sunday 9.00 to 12.30

First opened in December 2008, Stutton Community Shop is now an increasingly valued and well-supported service to the people of Stutton and surrounding villages, as well as to many passing visitors.
Today the shop can offer not just a comprehensive range of household items and staple foods, bread, milk, newspapers and fruit and veg., but also an increasing selection of local produce. This includes donated seasonal produce from village gardens as well as home-made jams and chutneys, cakes, biscuits and scones, and locally sourced pies and quiches. Wholefoods, frozen foods, pet foods, ice creams, stamps, greetings cards, soft drinks and much else is on offer.
Visitors to the shop can enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, sitting inside or, when the weather permits, outside in the attractive picnic area.

Other services
WiFi is available, a parcel collection service, small ads display boards and posters for local events ¬ you can buy tickets for some of these in the shop.
We deliver their shopping requirements free to residents of Oak House who have phoned-in, and to others where possible.
A number of charities and sponsored activities are supported with collection boxes and a Christmas raffle.

The Volunteers
Stutton Community Shop is run entirely by volunteers, who buy in the stock, deal with suppliers and serve the customers. There is always room for more volunteer helpers so, if you would like to join in, just come in and say so! It is a great way to meet new people, renew friendships, make new ones and help the shop to continue as a friendly centre for everyone.

The management committee meet once a month to consider policy and deal with any problems that may arise. Currently, the committee comprises three directors, Sue Hewlett, current chairman, Cavan Browne and Ray Fishwick, with Alison Nichols, Jill Seggar, Jan Brown, bookkeeper and Richard Lawson, treasurer.

A brief history
The original village shop closed in 2005 when the owners retired. A steering group was formed to investigate the possibility of setting up a replacement shop and to look for alternative sites.
In 2007 it was decided to buy a portacabin, a management committee was set up, a limited company was formed and the search for funds began. In July 2007 the company was inaugurated as a Community Interest Company, Stutton Community Shop C.I.C. This enabled us to seek funding from a number of
bodies that supported community projects, including Suffolk County Council funds, Big Lottery Awards for All and the VIRSA Village CORE Programme, as well as contributions from several Stutton groups. In all, together with a loan from Cooperative Finance Bank, over £55,600 was raised.
Meanwhile, a playgroup in Ipswich wanted to sell its portable building to make way for a school building project. A deal was done and, in the summer of 2008, Stutton¹s new shop was craned in to its site next to the Community Hall. After repairs, decoration, installation of shelving, display units and equipment, the new shop opened just in time for Christmas 2008.

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