PEOPLE who live in the countryside are being invited to suggest schemes that will benefit their communities.

It's all thanks to a £10,000 fund from Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op that will support rural self-help projects.

The Co-op is working in partnership with educational charity the Plunkett Foundation and the Rural Revival campaign provides business advice, support and start-up funding to co-operatives and self-help enterprises that combat rural deprivation and social exclusion. Beneficiaries may include community-owned village shops, rural community transport schemes or farm produce marketing groups.

OS&G Co-op is also currently promoting a new in-store local food scheme called Local Harvest.

Peter Couchman, group general manager, membership and corporate marketing, said: "The Plunkett Foundation is the leading charitable organisation in the UK with a remit to support the rural economy through economic self-help. OS&G Co-op schemes such as Local Harvest already benefit farmers and producers within our trading area. The funding we are giving Rural Revival will bring further benefits to the communities we serve."

For more details about the scheme or to get involved in Rural Revival, call Charlotte Gilman on 01993 883636 or email charlotte.gilman@plunkett.co.uk