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Broughton-in-Furness has welcomed the opening of a new community-run Post Office and shop, made possible thanks to support from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund, delivered by Fibrus.
The Community Post Office officially opened last week and will provide essential services for local residents and businesses, while also acting as a vital hub at the heart of the village. Funding from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund helped cover travel, accommodation and expenses, enabling Post Office Manager Siobhan Rawlins to attend specialist training in Warrington – training that would otherwise have been inaccessible.
The support ensured Siobhan could focus fully on learning best practice and gaining the confidence needed to deliver a high-quality, professional service for the community.
Siobhan, who has been a branch manager for 14 years, said the opportunity made a significant difference:
“I have been a branch manager for 14 years, but when I started, the training was lacking. Thanks to the funding, the training was made accessible for me. Attending it was very beneficial – I could focus on learning best practice without the pressure of a customer queue, and I now feel confident to provide a professional service to customers.”
The new community-run Post Office and shop will play an important role in supporting everyday needs, reducing the need for residents to travel further afield, and strengthening the long-term sustainability of services in Broughton-in-Furness.
The opening event was attended by Ross Jackson, Senior Associate Stakeholder Engagement at Hyperfast GB, who joined Andrew Gittins, Director of Broughton Community Services CIC, to mark the milestone.
Hyperfast GB, delivered by Fibrus, is working to connect communities across Cumbria through Project Gigabit, the UK Government’s rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband. As part of its delivery of Project Gigabit, Fibrus has committed to a range of social value initiatives designed to bring wider benefits to local communities.
The Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund has already supported more than 30 local causes across the county, helping community groups, village services and grassroots projects deliver lasting impact.
Ross Jackson said:
“This project is a great example of how targeted support can make a real difference at a local level. By helping to make training accessible, we’re supporting not just a service, but the people and communities who rely on it every day.”
Thanks were also extended to Annette Carmichael for the invitation to attend the opening, and congratulations to everyone involved in bringing the Community Post Office and shop to life.
If you’re involved with a local initiative that could use a helping hand, Fibrus invites you to apply for funding support by submitting a short form via this page. Simply, provide a short description of your project and its impact, explain how you would use the funding, and share your goals or community feedback.
To find out if you’re connectable through Hyperfast GB’s Full Fibre broadband rollout, visit here.