JOINING Horsley residents to celebrate the 10th birthday of their community shop was a lovely way to spend an hour or so on a summer Sunday afternoon.

Horsley Community Shop celebrated its tenth birthday on Sunday, marking a decade of achievement by volunteers.

It was a lovely celebration and it was clear that Horsley residents have created something special.

The community shop is well stocked with groceries, is responsive to the needs of villages, and supports local producers. There’s also a little café which is perfectly placed next to the beautiful Horsley playground, also revamped recently thanks to community effort.

Horsley Community Shop is one of a network of community shops in Stroud, which include stores in Uley, Whiteshill, Woodchester, and Coaley.

They are more than just a place to pick up a pint of milk and loaf of bread.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Shop, for instance, has a café which is used by community groups for various gatherings and has an accessible toilet. My caseworkers enjoyed a warm welcome recently when they held their mobile advice surgery there.

We are seeing mounting evidence of the depletion of rural services, so I want to pass on my appreciation to all the community groups who keep these shops open.

Their value is gaining wider recognition, with The House of Lords’ recent report, chaired by Don Foster highlighting the importance of these community initiatives are to rural areas.

They rely on dedicated volunteers, but the government must also do more to support them and protect rural services.

lMy caseworkers will be in Stonehouse at Wynn’s Café on Thursday, 1.30pm to 3pm, offering advice on all kinds of issues. Drop in and say hello!