The force behind one of the county’s most successful community shops has been honoured with a nomination in the Observer Community Awards.
Thanks to her determination and commitment, chairman of the Kirdford Village Shop Committee, Sue Ransley, has helped rekindle community spirit in the area, bringing the village alive again.
Kirdford was without a shop for more than three years but, after identifying a strong need for such a facility, Sue sprang into action, setting up a fundraising campaign and applying for grants.
After opening officially last year, the shop won the category for best community shop in the Daily Telegraph Magazine’s Best Small Shops awards and manager Craig Ramus won best customer service category in last year’s Observer Community Awards.
Most people know Sue by name and now the store is up and running she has thrown herself into many other projects which include the planting of a village orchard.
Residents say she has brought back a sense of pride in the village and the shop also supports food which is made in the area and as a result, Sue is looking at setting up a distribution cooperative for producers in the area.
Another project on the go is helping to develop a special website where Kirdford, and other villages, can publicise their events and news.
With the shop community-owned and managed and with all profits going back into the community, Sue has proved traditional values can survive and that there is a still a place for the humble village store.
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