SALTFORD’S community library, stationers and Post Office hub has celebrated its seventh anniversary.
About 50 volunteers and many customers shared prosecco and cake to mark the date in the hub at 478a Bath Road.
Saltford lost its Post Office about eight years ago, and the library was set to close soon after, so Chris Essex, a local villager, devised a plan to open a new Post Office and library run by volunteers.
Bath & North East Somerset Council agreed to let the project have the old library building for a peppercorn rent and, after much negotiation, Chris and his team secured a contract to open the Post Office.
None of the volunteers had any experience of running a library or Post Office, so they took training courses – often studying late at night or early in the morning – to run the successful operation that is still going strong today.
The team has faced a number of challenges over the years, including Covid, but the Post office remained open throughout the pandemic and the library reopened as soon as it was allowed.
Each week at least 22 volunteers (from a pool of 50) are needed to keep the hub open and two qualified PO counter clerks are also employed. Meanwhile, a committee of eight members works in the background to keep everything on track.
The hub receives a small commission on sales from the Post Office, many villagers and businesses make monthly donations, and a busy shop selling greetings cards and stationery also helps keep the project afloat.
The library regularly supports Saltford Primary School, with children coming to choose books with their teachers and after school with their families. The library also offers support to the local nursing home and any villager who has difficulty getting to the hub.
The team takes pride in offering efficient and friendly service, making the hub a crucial and joyful part of village life, and the hub often receives appreciative letters and comments from the residents and businesses that use it.
The team hub currently has vacancies for new volunteers for the stationery shop and library. Full training is provided. Anyone interested who has an afternoon to spare once a week or so is asked to get in touch – call 01225 257143 or visit www.saltfordhub.org
Pictured above, customers and volunteers enjoying prosecco at the Saltford Post Office and library hub to celebrates its seventh anniversary
Saltford Post Office and library hub celebrates anniversary
