This report produced by the Commission for Rural Communities contains 20 case studies illustrating alternative ways to provide Post Office services.

One case study reports the case of a community shop/post office run by the community for the benefit of the community.

Yarpole Community Shop, Herefordshire:

In October 2004 the privately owned shop and post office faced closure. Post Office Ltd indicated that they wanted to see 18 hours of post office services provided in the village. The process of creating a Yarpole Parish Plan was already underway and provision of a community shop and post office had a high priority. 110 people attended a public meeting from which a steering
group of 12 was formed.

How they got started:
A portable building was rented and sited on the pub car-park at a peppercorn rent. A part-time manager (12hours) was employed and volunteers engaged to run the shop 7 days a week. There are 24 shopfront staff plus 10 backup and 8 in the management/service team. The Association set up to run the project has 300 community shareholders. Post Office Ltd provided a sub-postmaster.

Funding:
The portable building costs £56 per week to rent.
Cost of counter was £3000 of which Post Office Ltd provided a 50% grant. £300 of other equipment was provided by individual sponsorship. Creating a secure area required £500 of materials but it was constructed with donated labour.

Key recommendations for a successful project:
- Keep the community up to date with plans and progress of the project.
- Check community commitment regularly
- Steering group needs people with skills: retail knowledge, financial control, marketing and business acumen. Enthusiasm is not enough!
- Ask the community when they would like the facility open.
- Don’t underestimate the community.
- Perfection is an unnecessary luxury
- Believe it can happen!

Full source details of the document at: http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/files/PO%20Case%20Studies2.pdf