Lythe Shop is facing an uncertain future unless it can recruit new volunteers and committee members to keep it going.
The current committee has said it can keep running it to the end of the year but is keen to hand over the responsibilities to younger people with fresh ideas, drive and energy.
There has been a shop in the building, on Lythe High Street, continuously for 150 years, save for a six month closure in December 2013.
Lythe Shop re-opened as a community and volunteer led venture in June 2014.
It is a thriving shop, well-used by the village, holiday-makers and passers-by – but needs younger people involved, say the current volunteers and committee.
Pen Cruz, has been involved since 2014.
She said: “The people on the committee are all volunteers and some of us have been doing it for 14 years.
“It is a thriving business in many ways and there are ways it can be taken forward.”
The shop is a community business, has 90 members with a share in it and is run by the committee. Most people are volunteers with some paid wages.
“That is a model which works”, added Pen. “We would like to try and keep that model and form a new committee. We need people with knowledge, energy and skills to oversee the finances, logistics and running of it.”
A public meeting is being held on Tuesday July 28, at 7pm in Lythe Village Hall for anyone who wants to learn more about the current situation and take a look at the shop.
Pen added: “We will keep it running to the end of the year but it is what comes after that which is uncertain.”
