Our Mission

In 2021, the villages of Kingston, Normanton, Sutton Bonington, West Leake and Zouch faced the imminent risk of losing their Post Office. Lesley Close, who had served as the Postmistress for the Sutton Bonington Post Office since 2009 retired in October 2021. To prevent the closure of the Post Office and gift shop, we took action. With your help we established a Community Benefit Society (CBS) tasked with managing and operating these essential services. This initiative aims to secure the future of the Post Office and ensure its ability to cater to the diverse needs of the local community.

A vital village amenity will now be preserved for future generations, run by the democratic, not-for-profit Community Benefit Society. Embedded within its Rules is the principle that the Society's surpluses will be available for distribution to other community projects. The community shop model has proved itself to be very robust. It is proven that communities that work together to set up such a venture will support it in the future.  You can read our Business Plan on the Shares page on this website.

By purchasing Community Shares you have become a Member of the Community Benefit Society. As a Member, you have a say in the running of the enterprise by voting at the Annual Members Meetings (AMM), and are eligible to become a member of the Management Committee. During the first Annual Members Meeting (AMM), the initial standing Committee Members stood down. A new Management Committee were elected at the AMMs held in 2022 and 2023. Welcome everyone to their new roles!

We are a team of volunteers, united by the common goal of ensuring the success of Sutton Bonington Community Shop.  To learn more about each role, click on the name of the role holder. 

Janine Bone (Chair)

Andy Sparrow (Vice-Chair)

Jane Blower ( Sub Postmistress & Shop Manager)

Carey Evans (Company Secretary & Membership Secretary)

David Faulkner (Policy)

Sheila Harrod (Funding Coordinator and retail stock)

Chris Hughes (Treasurer)

Nikki James (Retail stock)

Anne Marie Williamson (PR/Marketing)