PayPoint Calls for ‘Better Local Living’

LONDON -

- Campaign Launched Today to Support Local Communities in Britain

From today, The Better Local Living campaign urges local communities to support community stores and drive greater community spirit. To launch Better Local Living, the campaign’s creator, PayPoint, has investigated Britain’s attitudes to the concept of community and the communities they live in.

The results show that only 41% of British people think there is community spirit where they live. However, four out of five survey respondents (80%) think that a local store is important in developing greater community spirit and, crucially, two-thirds of Britons (67%) believe local community stores need more support than ever in today’s tough financial climate.

Building from today, the campaign will work with PayPoint’s 22,000 retailers in Britain to support them in being successful retailers - delivering the products and services that today’s UK consumer wants. The Better Local Living campaign will also work with trade bodies, debt charities and business organisations to help develop stronger communities in the UK.

In addition, through the Better Local Living campaign, PayPoint is seeking cross-party support to recognise the crucial role that local community stores play in British life. Lying at the very heart of the community, they serve as a social lifeline for many - with many hundreds of thousands of people across the UK using their store to meet people and find out what is going on locally. Indeed, thankfully, more than a quarter (27%) of Britons recognised that if they do not use their local stores, many will go out of business for good.

In support of the Better Local Living Campaign is Shadow Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP: “We all need to support our local shops, especially now. They provide variety, quality and personal service so important for our local communities. The simple truth is: use them or lose them.”

Notes to Editors

PayPoint plc

PayPoint is the leading cash and internet payments company in the UK with operations also in Ireland and Romania. It handles nearly GBP9 billion from over 540 million transactions annually for more than 6,000 clients and merchants.

Source: PayPoint Plc

Enquiries:Tom Nutt / Charlotte Pusey, The Communication Group, +44(0)20-7630-1411/+44(0)7775-686-706, paypoint at thecommunicationgroup.co.uk