The ‘Alternative Postal Services Toolkit’

In a response to the closure of 2500 post offices across the UK in 2008 Community First developed the ‘Post Point’ concept and a toolkit designed to enable communities and retailers to set-up an alternative postal services (Post Point) solution; which will provide many of the services provided by former village Post Offices. The Post Point concept was first piloted by a community in Gloucestershire Community First has taken the concept further by designing a marketing package and written a comprehensive ‘how to’ toolkit with support from Wiltshire Council.

Post Point in its most basic form is a place where the community can weigh and post parcels, but the opportunities for bolt on services such as assisted computer access information sharing, etc, are endless. The toolkit leads communities and retailers through several development stages – from finding out what the community needs and wants right through to launching the enterprise.

In association with Plain Action ‘A Rural Development Programme for Salisbury Plain’ there is currently a free support and equipment package for village communities that wish to set up a Post point in their community in the Salisbury Plain area.

For more information or to request a PDF copy of the Toolkit please contact Tim Coomer, Rural Enterprise Adviser.