# Plunkett Foundation celebrates 100 years of support for UK rural communities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/01/21/plunkett-foundation-celebrates-100-years-support-uk-rural-communities/
- Published: 2019-01-21T08:45:41+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Plunkett Foundation, which supports rural communities in setting up and running
community-owned businesses, celebrates its centenary this year.**

To mark the centenary, the [Plunkett Foundation](https://plunkett.co.uk/) will be
holding a series of events throughout 2019 and launching enhanced services and new
collaborations.

To kick start the centenary celebrations, both Plunkett’s Staff and Trustees have
been making visits to a number of community businesses to hear more about their 
impacts in their communities and plans for meeting community needs. The foundation
will be sharing stories, case studies and films encouraging both members and supporters
to join it in sharing their own #Plunkett100 stories throughout the year on its 
social media channels under that hashtag.

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> Happy 100 yr anniversary [#Plunkett100](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Plunkett100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> to @PlunkettFoundat . 
> You've been involved since our village shop became Community
> owned back in 1994 . That's 25 years of successful Community ownership! Considering
> the village Shop has roots back to 1637 we have good reason to keep going! [pic.twitter.com/ydZo1GDD3y](https://t.co/ydZo1GDD3y)
> — Itteringham Shop (@ItteringhamShop) [January 17, 2019](https://twitter.com/ItteringhamShop/status/1085907840810799104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The foundation launched on 17 January 1919, when Sir Horace Plunkett signed an indenture
that became the original trust deed for the Plunkett Foundation. Its purpose was
to promote the model of community ownership as a solution to rural problems.

James Alcock, Executive Director, said:

> “Over the course of 100 years, the Foundation has constantly evolved its services
> in response to the changing environment in which rural communities operate, and
> in order to help them respond to the challenges of the time. What has remained
> constant over the century is the resilience of rural communities themselves, and
> the application of co-operative principles to help themselves through the model
> which today we refer to as community business. The centenary year is therefore
> a timely opportunity to be launching new initiatives from our 2018-22 strategy
> which will strengthen support for community business and I look forward to sharing
> further details throughout the year.”

Margaret Clark CBE, Chair of Plunkett Foundation, said:

> “It is a tribute to Sir Horace’s forward thinking that his vision of communities
> coming together to form and run their own businesses for the benefit of locally
> is still as strong today. Indeed, it is even more relevant as rural communities
> across the country face the challenges of the future. But it also depends upon
> the extraordinary efforts of the people involved and I should like to take this
> opportunity to thank all those who have contributed over the years – funders, 
> partners, members, staff and Trustees for their help and support. At Plunkett 
> Foundation, we look forward to carrying on the work started by Sir Horace into
> the future.”

 

> It was the @PlunkettFoundat who helped us get our [#communityshop](https://twitter.com/hashtag/communityshop?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> built last year. Thank you so much. We celebrate with you your [#Plunkett100](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Plunkett100?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
> 🎉🎉🍾🍾 [pic.twitter.com/7xSMwVUfay](https://t.co/7xSMwVUfay)
> — Wiggintonshop (@Wiggintonshop1) [January 18, 2019](https://twitter.com/Wiggintonshop1/status/1086167297864224768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 

Main image credit: Plunkett Foundation

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