The most exciting part of running the Community Shop is that at the end of each year, if there has been sufficient profit made during the year, there will be an amount of money set aside for Community Awards. These awards will be made available to organisations within Ilsington Parish to help fund specific initiatives or activities that will be of benefit to the community. To find out about the Award Criteria and print out an application form, please go to the current year in the drop down list.

Our Village Shop (with apologies to Patience Strong!)

We all love our village shop, where you can buy

Onions, tights, cheese and stamps,

A loaf and home-made pie.

Run by a family – a cosy sort of place.

Always a word of welcome and a smiling face.

Enquiring after Mrs Jones' toe?

How's Mr Smith and when's the Flower Show?

Don't forget tomorrow's meeting at the rectory!

The human, harmless gossip of a small community.

At the counter, friends and neighbours meet throughout the year,

The little shops of England! May they never disappear!

by Joan Tiddy