Grindleford shop, which opened in 2014, is community run, mostly by volunteers but one FTE manager post. After the last commercial shop closed in about 2011, there was a noticeable hole in the centre of village life. Armed with enthusiasm and a lot of local support, and very little else, a small group managed to set up a viable project, first with Saturday morning pop-ups and then from June 2014 in permanent premises.
Finding suitable premises was difficult, but eventually St Helen’s Church very kindly gave us use of the former choir robing vestry.
The shop was never set up just to buy and sell things, although providing a convenient place for residents to buy essentials without getting in their cars has been a good spin-off. It also provides a life line for older residents, those living alone or with caring responsibilities, and in times of crisis like these. Children also come down after school to do some independent shopping, and we provide DofE volunteering opportunities for local youngsters. We also try hard to support local businesses.