CWMGWRACH AND TONMAWR POST OFFICES TO RECEIVE FUNDING BOOST

Labour Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has congratulated Cwmgwrach and Tonmawr Post Offices for their successful application to the new Post Office Diversification Fund.

These Post Offices are among the first to be awarded part of a new £4.5m fund to help sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses diversify and improve their facilities. 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 and 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.

Under the scheme 63 post offices throughout Wales have been awarded grants worth over £1.1million. 15 Post Offices have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 each for small capital projects and 48 have been awarded up to £20,000 each for larger capital projects.

19 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.

Labour Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said “I am delighted Cwmgwrach and Tonmawr Post Offices are to benefit from this fund. Post Offices are at the heart of the community, and are a necessary line of communication for vulnerable and disadvantaged people. This money will help us to keep Post Offices open by ensuring that they are sustainable and viable businesses, and I am delighted that two Post Offices in my Constituency have taken advantage of this scheme.”