Welsh Government
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First recipients of £4.5million Post Office Diversification Fund announced
The fund, which will run for three years and is open to every sub post office in Wales, aims to help with:
- business and marketing advice
- advertising
- training
- some set-up costs for new services.
Funding can also be applied for improvements such as:
- creating better access to buildings
- upgrading computer equipment
- improving security or
- providing better signs for the outside of premises.
The Minister made the announcement at Deri Post Office in Bargoed which has received £20,000 to help with alterations to ensure the Post Office complies with the Disability Discrimination Act including a new entrance, new counter, and a new floor. The Post Office hopes that increased business due to better accessibility will lead to two new part-time staff being recruited.
The announcement is one in a series of 24 events and engagements to mark the second anniversary of the One Wales agreement.
Under the scheme, sixty three post offices throughout Wales have been awarded grants worth over £1.1million in total. Fifteen Post Offices have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 each for small capital projects and forty-eight have been awarded up to £20,000 each for larger capital projects. Nineteen of the Post Offices have also received up to £15,000 in revenue funding which will help employ new staff or increase staff hours to provide more services.
The Deputy Minister said:
"Post Offices are often the heart of the community and as a government we have always recognised their value, particularly in supporting vulnerable people and providing essential services in our most isolated and most disadvantaged communities. This is why we made a One Wales commitment to introduce a fund to support these businesses, and I am pleased that this announcement represents a significant achievement in meeting this commitment”
"This money will help us to keep Post Offices open by ensuring that subpostmasters and subpostmistresses have sustainable and viable businesses, and I am delighted that so many Post Offices across the length and breadth of Wales have been able to take advantage of the fund."
Huw Roberts, Director of Welsh Affairs for Royal Mail said:
"This fund will provide real, tangible help to subpostmasters and the communities they serve right across all areas of Wales. It will help to ensure that their premises offer a safe and customer friendly environment and allow them to introduce complementary products and services.
"All this will help generate added footfall, more local jobs and help secure the viability and long term success of their businesses. We therefore welcome and applaud the work of our subpostmasters and the overall initiative of the Welsh Assembly Government."
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Applicants must be the legal owner or hold a minimum of a three-year lease of any building to be refurbished under the provisions of the Fund.
The Welsh Assembly Government marks the half-way point of its current One Wales programme.
