The Selborne Post Office and Stores Is Soon to Be Transformed Thanks to a Grant of 20,000
Selborne Post Office and Stores
Overview
The Selborne Post Office and Stores is soon to be transformed thanks to a grant of £20,000 from a Hampshire County Council run initiative.
Background
The shop owners applied for funding from the Village Community Grants scheme, which is administered by Hampshire County Council, to secure funds to make improvements to the shop that would help increase footfall and its long term viability.
The grant will be used to refurbish the shop, increase the range of products - including offering more local produce, and improving access for less able customers. The owners will also be installing a hot drinks machine and a sandwich counter selling freshly made sandwiches after a survey highlighted this as something villagers would like and was a need not currently being met locally.
To help promote the new look store a website is to be developed and leaflets are to be distributed around the village.
Impact on the community
Councillor Ray Ellis, Executive Member for Economic Development and Rural Affairs at Hampshire County Council, said: “Village shops are essential for the preservation of the village communities and their sustainability. The aim of the Community Village Grant Scheme is to revitalise village shops and make them more sustainable and viable in the long term.
“The changes proposed for Selborne will increase the services and products available, create a more customer friendly environment and will see the store diversify to meet a gap identified in the market for freshly made sandwiches. The store already has strong support from the local community. Hopefully these improvements will see this strengthen and the customer base increase.”
Funding facts and contacts
The Village Community Grant Scheme offers funding to help increase the use of village shops or to create new community-led village stores, particularly in communities that are losing their post offices. A total of 23 grants have now been awarded to villages across Hampshire since the scheme was launched in 2008.
Under the Village Community Grants project a wide variety of projects could be eligible for a grant of up to £20,000 to help them on their way. Successful schemes could include for example, the creative location of village shop services, perhaps in the local pub or parish hall or a new delivery service.
The Village Community Grant Scheme is targeted primarily at villages with fewer than 5,000 residents, with applications welcome from community associations, village shop associations, parish or district councils and formal voluntary associations. Private businesses can also apply if they have the written support of their parish council
For more information about the Village Community Grant Scheme, contact either:
- Anne Harrison at Hampshire County Council on 01962 846558
- Joanna Dixon at Community Action Hampshire on 01962 854971
- Steven Lugg from the Hampshire Association of Local Councils on 02380 263438