A joint letter has been signed by Citizens Advice, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Age UK, and Action with Communities in Rural England calling on the Chancellor to continue to support rural post offices at the upcoming Spending Review

Post offices play a vital role in rural areas providing crucial access to essential services for people and small businesses in towns and villages across the UK. They also play an important social role in many local communities. This is particularly important for people in vulnerable circumstances.  

The government currently provides a £50 million subsidy to support 4,000 post offices to stay open. This includes 3,000 rural ‘last shop in the village’ community branches. However, this subsidy is due to end in March 2022. 

They're calling on the Chancellor to extend this support beyond March 2022 to ensure that the post office network can continue to make a vital contribution to our economy and society in rural areas.

A copy of the letter sent to the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak can be downloaded here