Community at heart of vital village service
Post office prepares for Christmas
A post office run by its own community - including 50 volunteers - is gearing up for a busy festive season.
Doune Post Office was taken over in March 2018 by Kilmadock Development Trust when it moved its information/ heritage centre into the Balkerach Street premises to run the business as a joint facility.
Three paid staff and dozens of volunteers are used on a rota basis to keep the post office running to meet the needs of local area.
The process to take on the Post Office was “long and arduous” but the Trust was determined to make sure Doune retained a post office and that the village would not lose vital postal and banking services.
Recently their opening hours have been Monday to Friday 10am –1pm and Saturday 10am-noon however, with the festive season approaching, from Monday, November 11, they will be open from 10am5pm every day (closed for lunch 1-2pm) until Christmas Eve.
Sale of a wide range of gifts, books, cards, maps, stationery and wrapping paper, some of which have been made by local artists, including jewellery, paintings, cards, teddies and squirrel boxes, helps to subsidise the post office and keep it open.
Evelyn Tweed, SNP councillor for Trossachs and Teith, visited recently. She said “The work Karen Ross and her volunteers continue to do is vital for the community and they have put so much effort into making the post office and information centre something special. I will certainly be shopping local.
“The directors’ and volunteers’ commitment and personal effort is outstanding and they provide so many additional services to the public that I wasn’t aware of such as welcome packs for new villagers containing all sorts of useful information such as bus timetables; The Bridge magazine; nature trails; information about the post office and Doune.”
The business is classed as a Post Office Local Plus (it doesn’t deal with passports or driving licences) but among services it offers are cash gift cards and travel money collection.
KDT convenor Karen Ross said ‘It has been a year of consolidation for the Kilmadock Development Trust. Learning to run a post office is not for the faint hearted. Opening our new Information and Heritage Centre and building up a new range of stock has been challenging and not least continuing to run the Rural Hall.
“The good news is we are succeeding in moving towards sustainability. We aren’t there yet but things are looking positive and with the support of our staff, volunteers and the community we believe we can make a success of all three ventures.”
Councillor Tweed said: “Karen is always looking for volunteers to help out and this is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get involved, have fun and give something back to their community. Helping out is totally flexible and buddying and training will be offered. ”
Volunteer Ken Russell said: “Being with a bunch of people who give up some of their time to do something good for the community is rewarding, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve met and become friends with some really great people, learned to do interesting new stuff and tapped into the buzz of what goes on in the village.”
Another volunteer, Lesley McConnell added: “I really enjoy working here. I have gotten to know everyone and it is great to be part of a community. It really does help to keep your brain active after you retire.”
The work Karen Ross and her volunteers continue to do is vital for the community