The Community Boot Inn awarded support from More Than A Pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme and Power to Change C-19 Emergency Trading Income Support Scheme
The Community Boot Inn has received special grants from two national projects to help community-owned pubs deal with the challenges of Covid-19.
We have succeeded with a Small Grant Award from More than a Pub, which helps fund community pubs to set up and run community support activities that address the challenges of the Covid-19 social distancing measures during the full lock-down. This funding has been used to help support the additional cleaning costs at the pub and running the delivery service during lockdown.
We have also been awarded an additional award from the Power to Change C-19 Emergency Trading Income Support Scheme and are passing the benefit of this grant onto Chris and Hollie in the form of a rent reduction.
In total, nationally, the More Than A Pub: The Community Pub Business Support Programme is valued at £2.2 million, funded by Power to Change. It is being delivered by national charity the Plunkett Foundation in collaboration with Co-operative & Community Finance, Key Fund, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Co-operative Mutual Solutions, Pub is the Hub, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Locality.
In addition Power to Change, the independent trust that supports community businesses in England, had up to £12 million of emergency support to provide both immediate and medium-term help for community businesses facing a loss of trading income during the coronavirus crisis.
To find out more about this initiative please visit: www.plunkett.co.uk/more-than-a-pub and www.powertochange.org.uk
John Alderman, Chair of the Community Boot Inn, said:
“These awards have proven both timely and invaluable in helping mitigate the impact of the extended period of Pub closures. As ever, we have been so impressed by Chris and Hollie’s ingenuity and flexibility during lockdown, but notwithstanding, the awards really do help cover the inevitable financial short-fallings. As the management committee, we would like to thank both the Power to Change initiatives and Plunkett Foundation for this critical support.”
James Alcock, Plunkett’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to support The Community Boot Inn, Orleton, who have shown such dedication to ensure their pub can continue to be at the heart of the community despite the significant challenges arising from Covid-19. Pubs which are owned and run by the community are so much more than a place to eat and drink – they become the beating heart of that community, and never more so than at this challenging time. It is so important that pubs like this can continue to be there for the people who need them during and after this crisis. I wish everyone involved all the very best for the future.”
As you are all aware, the pub is now open, but these are still challenging times with more uncertainty ahead. Once again, the grants received have really helped Chris and Hollie to continue to support the community, so being now open, let’s all make sure we support them in return.