The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland has awarded Plunkett UK £20,000 to strengthen its support for Scottish community-owned shops.
The funding will help Plunkett provide more support to open and trading community shops, increasing retail knowledge and helping them remain resilient and viable at a challenging time for retailers.
There are more than 50 community-owned shops in Scotland, including those that serve some of the country’s most remote rural and island communities.
The funding will allow Plunkett to build on its existing specialist support for community-owned shops through training, opportunities to share knowledge and advice tailored to the needs of trading businesses.
It also supports Plunkett’s 2026–31 strategy, which places an increased focus on helping existing community businesses to remain strong and sustainable, alongside supporting new businesses to start. Working more closely with Scotland’s community shops will also help Plunkett better understand their needs and strengthen relationships with partners across Scotland.
