Our Progress

It’s been a very busy year so far for Weston SOS – take a look at the progress we’ve made so far below:

  • February: Initial village meeting held on 22nd February to discuss the future of Shop and PO, organised by the Parish Council.
  • February: Formed Weston SOS as an unincorporated association and opened bank account for initial pre-incorporation fundraising.
  • March: Support from the Village Hall with use of hall for Committee meetings.
  • March: Created website (weston-sos.org), Facebook page and email mailing list.
  • April: Distributed printed flyers to all village residents and displayed posters around village.
  • April: Launch of initial survey including distribution of paper survey to all village residents and online survey form and reviewing of survey results.
  • April: Successful Stage 1 (of 2) application to the Valencia Communities Grant for a grant of £50,000.
  • May: Successful Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Community Ownership Fund.
  • May: Completed independent building survey, thanks to support from David Buchanan, a village resident.
  • May: Received 1 day of initial funded advisor support from the Plunkett Foundation.
  • May: Received a small amount of financial support from the Parish Council for incorporation and printing costs.
  • June: Joined Plunkett Foundation as a community venture member.
  • June: Received fully funded COF support package including support for development of business plan financials and opportunity to apply for pre-application grant funding of up to £10,000.
  • July: Provided an update at the Annual Village Meeting organised by the Parish Council.
  • July: Registered Weston SOS as a Community Benefit Society with the FCA.
  • July: Completed independent Valuation Survey to appraise freehold valuation and flat rental opportunity.
  • July: Village meeting held to present our plan for community ownership of the Shop and Post Office.
  • July – Application for Stage 2 of the Valencia Communities Grant unsuccessful.
  • August: Received confirmed pledges of £26,000 for purchase of community shares or donations.
  • August: Recruited new committee members to a total size of 9 – bringing in more relevant experience and expertise into the committee.
  • September: Submitted application for £9,950 of pre-application grant funding from the Community Ownership Fund (COF).
  • September: Submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Community Shares Booster fund.
  • October: Letter of support received from John Howell MP, local MP for the constituency of Henley.
  • October: Confirmation from Community Shares Booster Fund that we are eligible to submit a Full Application.
  • October: Final draft of business plan and community share offer document prepared in preparation for COF application and Community Shares Standard Mark assessment.
  • October: COF Pre-application grant of £9,950 awarded to Weston SOS.
  • October: Letter of support received from the Parish Council.
  • October: Allocated Plunkett advisor for Community Shares Standard Mark assessment of our business plan and share offer.
  • October: Submitted Community Ownership Fund application for the Round 2 Window 3 bidding deadline on the 11th October.