Orkney
Eday Community Co-operative
Millbounds, Eday, Orkney, KW17 2AB
Telephone: 01857 622 283
Email: info@ece-shop.co.uk
The Island of Eday is situated around 16 miles from Kirkwall and has a population of 150. The Eday Community Co-op was established in 1981 by Eday Community Enterprises Ltd in response to the threatened loss of the island’s only shop. Money was raised locally through the sale of £25 shares, and this together with funding from the Highlands & Islands Development Board and Orkney Islands Council enabled the community to buy the business and extend the existing building.
The shop sells a wide range of goods and is estimated to account for 90% of the islanders’ food shopping. It currently employs 9 part-time staff and in 2009 installed a 6kw wind turbine to help towards electricity costs and eventually as another source of income.
Papay Community Co-operative
Beltane House, Papa Westray, Orkney, KW17 2BU
Telephone: 01857 644 321
Email: beltanepapay@aol.co.uk
In 1978 the island shop was threatened with closure and in response the local people decided to start a community co-operative to take over the business and run the shop. The population of Papay was 73 and through selling £25 shares, the Community Co-op managed to raise funds which were matched by the Highlands & Islands Development Board (now Highlands & Islands Enterprise). This enabled the Co-op to employ a full time manager to run the business which includes a retail store, guest house/hostel, petrol & diesel and seasonal island tours.