Smarden Community Store

How the Kent Social Enterprise Loan Fund enabled a village hub to thrive

Smarden Community Store and Post Office is a volunteer-led enterprise at the heart of village life, offering fresh, local and sustainable products alongside a vital community space.

In 2024, the Store secured a blended loan and grant from the Kent Social Enterprise Loan Fund (KSELF), delivered by Kent Community Foundation, enabling them to strengthen their financial resilience, grow their services, and confidently plan for the next five years.

The challenge

Smarden’s Management Committee needed startup and stabilisation finance to bring their community store vision to life. Traditional lending routes were difficult due to:

• Limited collateral

• The need for early-stage support

• A requirement for flexible finance suitable for a community run model

They needed a funding partner who understood the social value behind their business plan - not just the numbers. James Horne, Grant and Social Loans Manager, worked closely with the Smarden team from the earliest planning stages, offering guidance, reassurance, and a long term partnership approach.

The impact

With support from Kent Community Foundation, Smarden Community Store and Post Office has been able to:

• Secure the funding needed to establish the store

• Plan confidently over a five year period

• Focus on core priorities such as local sourcing and community building

• Strengthen long term financial stability

• Provide a welcoming hub for local residents

“When we put together our business plan for Smarden Community Store, Kent Community Foundation was there to support us with funding options. They engaged with us at an early stage, giving us confidence that should we need it, finance was available. The funding has allowed us to focus on our core business aims and plan financially over a 5 year period, giving us the stability to build upon.”

Simon Hoyle, Smarden Management Committee

Smarden Community Store demonstrates the power of blended finance in strengthening grassroots organisations. By reinvesting loan repayments back into the Fund, KSELF continues to circulate support throughout Kent and Medway - creating long‑term, community‑led impact.