An Isle of Wight Post Office has been awarded a grant of up to £10,000 after successfully winning a Community Enterprise Fund competition for their outstanding proposals to support local people and businesses and to tackle isolation amongst the elderly.
In all, 25 branches up and down the country have been announced as winners in the community competition, revealed by Minister for Communities, Stephen Williams including Godshill’s post office.
Proposals include providing free Wi-Fi access and IT training, developing community apps and websites to inform people and businesses about local services and a scheme to protect elderly and vulnerable people from winter freezes by keeping them in touch with neighbours, local services and charities.
Godshill’s branch will develop the Post Office as a community hub and referral service to reduce isolation of older people by extending service to include advice on health and care, local activities and events and support volunteer-led befriending service.
Stephen Williams said:
“The millions of people visiting branches to post cards and parcels at the moment remind us of the huge community role the Post Office plays, but this will not just stop in January, it goes on all year round. Post offices are becoming community hubs, getting local people and businesses involved with each other, learning new skills, and sharing information and today is a big step forward with 25 areas becoming even more active.
“Christmas is a time when people can feel particularly isolated and the problem is most acute amongst the elderly so whilst all these schemes will benefit the whole community I also want to congratulate those schemes that are in particular aimed at helping the elderly.”
Over 100 branches put forward suggestions for the competition. Originally the aim was to fund up to 20 schemes, but the quantity and quality of the proposals means that 25 have been successful.
