Talk:Alternative Post Office
From Norfolk RCC
The information below was the product of a workshop on the development of an alternative Post Office at the Plunckets foundations RSE7 conference led by Norfolk Rural Community Council.
The headings below list the services currently provided by the Post Office both as commercial products and as a result of their place in small communities. The ideas of delegates on alternative ways these could be delivered are recorded as they were written down during the workshop, some are more sensible than others however we are the opinion that there are no bad ideas even if there only result is to make you smile!
We encourage people to add and develop suggestion both within this discussion page on in the main article. If you need help in editing this page see the user guide
Friendly eyes and ears
Refers to the informal social support network create by the post office
- join a club
- go to the pub
- coffee morning
- go shopping
- get married
- neighborhood watch
Interesting adaptation of the neighborhood watch idea is to take the emphasis away from crime prevention to social care creating more of a neighbor watch? --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- Police and PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers)
- Church/faith communities
- Leisure centres
- Libraries and traveling libraries
- Social sessions for particular groups e.g elderly
Bill Payment
- Online
- at a bank
- paypoint
- ATM
Some atms have payment provision and cheque deposit could this be adapted in a rural setting? --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- Over phone
- Pay cash
- Direct debit/standing order
Possibly with a volunteer assistance program to support vulnerable people doing this --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- by post
- collective purchasing instead
Encouraging bulk fuel purchase scheme may also help those experiencing fuel --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- via mobile phone
- Gather payments and take to the nearest PO
Gift Vouchers
- cheques
- cash
- online
- WHsmiths
- top up cards
- gift stamps
- link to savings clubs
- link to share purchase
- Nector/ponts system
- Local cashless systems/cards
Could the extension of a scheme like the Totness pound, a local currency issued to encourage trading within the local economy, be adapted to deliver social benefits? --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- local food producers
Banking Services
- Online
- Mobile
- Go to bank
- mobile vehicles/outreach
- atm
- cash back from shops
Insurance
- Other shops/pub
- Online
- Insurance companies
- by phone direct
- by phone through a broker
- post
- paper coupon
Vehicle tax/Passports
- Online
- Pharmacies
- Doctors
- passport office
- from supermarket
- Libraries
Having forms available on the mobile library may be a feasible solution --Clemo 15:35, 30 November 2007 (GMT)
- Registry office
- Church
- town hall
- abolish vel
Savings Schemes
- Christmas club
- Investment club
- Community savings e.g. Grameen?
- Credit Unions
- Internet banking
- Traveling Banks
- Savings stamps
- Children’s savings schemes
- Agency for building society
Village Information Point
- Business notice board / wants /to give
- exchange
- Church hall
- internet/website
- newspaper
- village hall community building
- Police
- Radio/TV
- CAB
- village newsletter
- shop notice board
- pub notice board
- petrol station
- leaflets
- distribution points (tickets etc.)
Postal Services
- Buy from internet
- self-service online
- franking machine in village hall
- transport to next PO
- establish business post
- virtual post
- parcel collection
- stamps
- weigh scales
Social Focal Point
- café
- pub
- village hall
- church
- school
- petrol station
- Doctors surgery/health centre
- War memorial
- shop
- the park
- community events e.g.fireworks
- Libraries
Foreign Currency
- Pub
- Shop
- petrol station
- internet
- union
Benefits
- Internet connection for advice
- pub
- shop
- petrol station
- atm
- direct to bank account
- councils
Personal Loans
- Loan sharks
- Zopa- personal lending via internet
- Credit union
- Mobile banks
- Building Society (reps at shop)
- Bar solicitor’s loan
- friend
Access to Cash
- cashpoint
- ATM
- Non-cash e.g. prepay, time – banks
- Cards e.g. EOS card
- cashless system e.g. school meals
- cash back in shop, petrol station, café, pub etc.
- under mattress
Phone Products
- prepay
- internet e.g. VOIP
- cash/coins
- local wireless/mobile access
- direct debits
- card kiosks (phone card for the above)
credit cards
- online application
- ATM
- Cashback at till
- shop can take /cash cheques
- MONDEX
- apply by phone
- apply via ATM
- money clubs
money transfer
- Internet banking
- pay station
- ATM
- registered post
- western union
- use cash
- postal orders
- bankers draft
- use bank
- credit union
Licenses and Permissions
- Deliver via any counter service
- sold by controller of use e.g. fishing license from Bailiff
- local councils
- via church/town hall
- abolish some licenses