ViRSA supports rural communities wanting to set up and run a community owned shop. We offer guidance from the earliest planning stages through to the opening of the shop and then ongoing support as required. We do this by providing practical assistance through a network of community retail advisers, this web site, a national office and various publications.
ViRSA promotes community ownership as a viable option for villages wishing to retain or introduce a local shop. Currently, there are around 150 community owned shops in England. This number is increasing as rural communities find that community ownership is often the only way to have a shop in the village.
ViRSA carries out research projects on community owned shops and the social and economic issues that affect them. This work is used to inform government and charities and enables us to provide the best quality advice to individual communities. ViRSA also provides expertise to government and other organisations on various rural retail projects.
ViRSA obtains its funds from grants, donations and subscriptions. There is no charge to individual communities for our advice and support.