Newsagent Invests to Bring News to the Community
A Shildon shopkeeper has increased her staff to improve the service she offers to readers of The Northern Echo and other morning papers.
Kellie Thompson set up business last year, investing in a local store which serves the residents of Shildon for anything from chocolate bars to loo rolls.
But it was the “need-for-news” among her customers that persuaded Kelly, a former nurse, to take on two new members of staff, partly funded by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
After spending most of her career in nursing Kellie, decided to try the fast paced world of consumer retail. After opening last winter, Kellie realised that her little corner shop in Shildon had an important role to play in people’s daily lives as a source of news, local goods and groceries.
She found some of her customers were having difficulties getting their Northern Echo, which Kellie regards as a vital source of information to some of the most vulnerable people in society. It became apparent that delivering newspapers to some of the outlying areas was proving impossible for the current team of traditional paper boys and girls and, for some residents, getting to pick up their morning paper was difficult and sometimes impossible.
Two new roles were identified, one of which would introduce a delivery service to the outlying towns, villages and hamlets.
Kelly said: “For vulnerable people in the towns and villages around Shildon the daily newspaper is really important. It forms a link to the news taking place across their area and is fondly appreciated by a large section of customers. If they can’t get into the shop that means they miss out, so hopefully this service will mean they can still keep abreast of what’s going on.”
The new driver arrives at Kellie’s shop at the crack of dawn to load up the van. By mid morning he has delivered over 500 newspapers to homes across the area and has made sure people who can’t get out and about have their morning newspapers on their doormats.
As a result of the support of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the creation of two posts means Kellie will be able to access over £2,000 of funding. The Working Neighbourhoods Fund aims to increase employment prospects in the Sedgefield district and the offer of this discretionary fund is now available as an incentive for businesses to create and fill new job opportunities.
Kellie’s funding has been earmarked and will be released after both posts have been filled for a six-month period.
She said: “The funding is a great incentive to look at ways to create job opportunities, and the new starters are doing great. At the end of six months I might use the grant to invest in new equipment or even look at growing and taking on more staff.”
For more information on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund log onto www.sasda.info or call the team on 01325 310730
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