Kirkoswald residents were celebrating this week after learning that a challenging fundraising target had been reached and surpassed by a group aiming to save a much-loved community asset.
The village’s Ravenbridge Stores came on to the market last year following the death of its owner, local philanthropist David Hodgkiss, who had rescued the old-established shop after its doors closed in 2009.
A steering group was set up last September to save the shop and earlier this year launched a share offer to raise £200,000 to buy and run it – a target which has now been achieved.
The group, Kirkoswald Community Shop, say they are delighted to have raised £205,000 through share applications.
Ruth Anderson, who chairs the group’s management committee, said: “We are thrilled to have had such a generous response to our calls for people to buy shares in the shop.
“We have smashed our target of £200,000 and this means we are forging ahead with purchasing the shop and flat premises, and hope to have the new store open in early July.
“It is wonderful that we have achieved this and we now have over 600 shareholders, all of who will have a stake in the success of the shop going forward into the future.”
She added that if local people would like to give further assistance, the committee would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help out in the shop as more volunteers are always needed.
Ruth can be contacted on 07756 803037.
