Ashton Hayes Community Hub Ltd (AHCHL) has been shortlisted as a finalist in the One to Watch Category for the 2024 Rural Community Business Awards, sponsored by Bestway Wholesale, hosted by Plunkett UK.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Coin Street Conference Centre in London on Wednesday 23rd October. Click here to view our finalist video.
The efforts of AHCHL in acquiring and restoring The Golden Lion have already begun to have profound and positive impact on both the community business and the local community. By fostering social cohesion, creating economic opportunities, supporting environmental sustainability, and preserving local heritage, AHCHL has demonstrated the powerful benefits of community-driven initiatives. Inclusivity and accessibility are central to its mission, their efforts ensure that all community members, regardless of age, ability, or background, are able to benefit from and participate in this community initiative and the ongoing services it will provide in perpetuity for the community.
Almost 70 individuals from across the UK put forward their community business and individual champions for the eight categories in this year’s awards.
Hugo Deynem, AHCHL Chair, said “We are extremely pleased to have been selected as a finalist in this exciting category of the Rural business Awards. The category of One to Watch really captures the enthusiasm and drive for the project that the whole of the community has for the Golden Lion. Reinstating our village pub and hub for the long term, will bring back to life the long missed focal point of Ashton Hayes and the wider community.”
Gemma Sills, Plunket UK’s Engagement Manager, says, “It has been inspiriting to see so many people nominated their local community-owned businesses, truly emphasising the significant role they play in their communities. We celebrate the considerable impact each one is making in its local area and we are looking forward to next month’s awards event when the winners are announced.”
Plunket UK is a national charity which supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses in community ownership. It does this to achieve its UK-wide vision for resilient, thriving and inclusive rural communities.
There are more than 800 community-owned businesses across the UK, and each one is democratically owned by community members. They can be any type of business ranging from village shops, pubs and cafes, through to woodlands, fisheries and farms.
For more information about the Awards go to https://plunkett.co.uk/rural-community-business-awards.