Yorkshire villagers picked for cash access scheme

A RURAL North Yorkshire village’s inclusion in a new scheme which helps to improve communities’ access to cash could “empower” residents.

Eight locations across Britain have been chosen to take part in the Community Access to Cash Pilot (CACP), working with the banking industry to look at solutions to keeping cash viable for people and businesses.

One location is the Camphill Village Trust’s Botton Village in the North York Moors National Park, where a community of people who mostly have learning disabilities or other special needs live by and work on farms.

Potential ways to make improvements could include, for example, installing new ATMs, having a place for retailers to deposit cash locally, or sharing bank branch facilities.

Andrew Arnell, business and enterprise manager for the Camphill Village Trust North, said that one of the benefits will be training opportunities.

He said: “People with learning disabilities in particular sometimes have difficulty getting access to cash. Most benefits are paid directly into a bank account,” he added, using one example.

Being able to access cash, he said, “raises self-esteem, independence skills and it gives people more say. Having cash just gives people more freedom.”

The nearest locations to get cash are Castleton and Danby around two-and-a-half miles away, and their facilities are lacking too, said Mr Arnell.

The opportunity was about “empowering” residents, he said.

Founded in 1955, Botton was the first Camphill centre to offer opportunities to adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.

The other locations chosen from applications include Ampthill in Bedfordshire, Burslem in Staffordshire, Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, Denny in Falkirk and Hay-on-Wye.