The Rural Community Council For Kent and Medway
you are in: Our Work
Rural Retailer
Village Shops and Post Offices
Many rural communities have suffered from a reduction in local businesses and services in recent years. Village shops, post offices, pubs and garages have closed. In agriculture, too, traditional types of employment have disappeared due to changes in farming methods. Villages face becoming dormitories for nearby towns and having no local services of their own. We have created an organisation called KARR (Kent Action for Rural Retailers) and work very closely with the Post Office to sustain or in some cases develop new Post Office services.
We can help communities to assess the need for services and to plan projects in response to that need. This can help develop a sustainable local economy for the benefit of all who live there. We can provide information on grants available for regeneration projects and on best practice already taking place in Kent.
We advise on all aspects of retailing and improving village shops and post offices and on many other local services.
For more information contact Sharon Davies on 07551 725383 or email: sharon.davies@ruralkent.org.uk
For more information submit an enquiry, or request an information pack.
KARR Kent Community Retailer Awards 2010
At a time when many shops and Post Offices are under threat, a number of rural shopkeepers have shown that good ideas and community involvement can help such businesses thrive.
The skills and efforts of these shopkeepers was recognised at the “Kent Community Retailer 2010” Awards held at Lenham Community Centre on 15th September.
Organised by “Kent Action for Rural Retailers” (KARR), this was the third time these awards have been made and are designed to give a higher profile to rural shops and make communities more aware of how important local village shops are.
The award goes to the retailer who it is considered does the most for his village and his customers and therefore this does not mean the biggest shop or the one with the highest turnover.
KARR is keen to see communities become more involved with their local shops and so all application forms were sent to Parish Councils to be completed with the retailers. A panel of judges reduced the entries to a shortlist of six and then a different group of judges visited each shop to meet the retailers, look at the shop standards and services and to hear how they fitted into the local community.
Full results were as follows:
| Winner | Vin Patel | "Wady & Brett", Charing |
| Joint Runner Up | Kay & Graham Vamplew | "Inn Store", Matfield |
| Joint Runner Up | Samm Orgar | "Orpins Stores", Brabourne |
| Highly Commended | Peter Higgs | "Chilham Shop" |
| Highly Commended | Praful Jadeja | "Upchurch Newsagent" |
| Highly Commended | Sanjeev Mall | "The Barnyard", Upchurch |
Winners award to Mr & Mrs Patel, Wady & Brett
Joint Runner Up awards to (left) Kay Vamplew - Inn Store, Matfield and (right) Samm Orgar - Orpins Stores, Brabourne
Also receiving their awards from Sean Carter are Peter Higgs - Chilham Stores, Mr & Mrs Jadeja - Upchurch Newsagents and Sanjeev Mall - The Barnyard