Representatives from Pembrokeshire Communities who are interested in setting up a local/ community owned shop went on a trip to visit Bryn Community Shop at Brechfa in Carmarthenshire.

Hosted by the Trustees and volunteers of Bryn stores, the attendees looked around the shop and had the opportunity to ask questions about the day to day running, stock purchasing and layout. We were amazed at the amount and range stocked and were very interested in the locally produced items kept. The shop also offers a good range of fair trade products along side value type low cost products.

We were treated to a very comprehensive account of how the shop was established and how volunteers were recruited. All staff are volunteers from the immediate community who work two hour stints or multiples of. 

The shop is open from 7.30 to 6pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning. The community took a conscious decision not to open on Sundays. We were very grateful to the trustees and volunteers for their transparency in the information given, allowing us to view financial figures and discussing difficult issues that had to be addressed.

We then adjourned to a B&B across the road for coffee and sandwiches and a presentation on suitable legal structures for Social Enterprises, available funding (although some of this was available to Carmarthenshire business only) and future plans for the shop.

The attendees all agreed that this was a very useful way to learn about social enterprise and valued the experience and advice of the trustees.

Special thanks to the trustees and Volunteers of Bryn Stores Community Shop.