Joyce urges ‘the only shops in the village’ in Mid & West Wales not to miss support deadline

Labour Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales JOYCE WATSON AM is urging village shops to apply for support from the Welsh Assembly Government's Rural Retail Programme.

Shops in Mid & West Wales can apply for support if they are the sole retailer in a village but deadlines for applications are approaching fast and now is the time to apply.

Village stores that are the sole business in their community can receive one and a half days of free specialist retail advice. They can also apply for a Vital Rural Retailer Grant of up to £5,000 and 50% of the costs for measures to make the business more sustainable within their community. Previous grants have been awarded for new fridges, freezers, display counters, shelving, signs and cash registers.

JOYCE WATSON said:

“As someone who has run small businesses I know how hard they can be to sustain, yet also how vital they are to local communities.

“That is why I launched my ‘Make your Christmas shop a local shop’ challenge, and I have been encouraged by the positive response I have had from shoppers and small traders. I would like to see local shops across Mid & West Wales applying for this aid.

“Village shops are often the heart of rural communities. The support they provide, especially for older people and those with a physical disability, can stretch way beyond just milk and bread.

“But despite their importance they can often struggle to survive. That's why the business advice and grant aid on offer from the Assembly Government could make a real difference.

“There is also help available for villages and communities who have lost their only shop. Grant aid up to £10,000 for community and volunteer groups or individuals to re-instate lost services is available through the Re-introduction of Services to Rural Communities scheme.

“If a business provides written evidence of community support to bring back the service along with a full business plan and there is not another retailer in the village, then they could be eligible.”

Anyone interested in the Rural Retail Programme should contact the Business Eye Helpline on 08457 969798 or email the Rural Retail Programme team ruralretail@wales.gsi.gov.uk.