ViRSA helps rural communities set up and run community owned shops.
ViRSA is now an activity of the Plunkett Foundation, a charity which aims to improve rural livelihoods through cooperation and social enterprise. ViRSA was founded in 1992 in Dorset following the successful start up of a community owned shop in the village of Halstock.
There are now around 170 community owned shops trading in England, Scotland and Wales. Most of these have been established with ViRSA’s support.
We are based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire with a network of community retail advisers who possess unique knowledge of rural shop-keeping and community development. Our strength lies not only in the individual skills of our advisers, but in their ability to share each others’ knowledge and experience.
There is no charge to individual communities for our advice and support.