Post Office (PO) has launched a feature on its app to allow postmasters to more easily access emergency services, social media abuse help and more.

The new feature on the Branch Hub app presents resources organised into three key areas:

• “I Need Help Right Now”: Immediate support for postmasters in crisis, offering quick access to emergency services, mental health first aiders, area and business support managers, and organisations like Samaritans
• “More Support and Guidance”: Practical resources, including security advice, social media abuse help, guidance documents, and links to external organisations such as Citizens Advice and Mind
• “Access Community Support”: Opportunities for postmasters to connect with peers through WhatsApp and Facebook groups, as well as in-person meetings organised by the PO

Mark Eldridge, postmaster experience director, said: “The wellbeing of postmasters is a top priority. This initiative ensures that anyone who needs help can find it quickly and easily. It’s about creating a culture of care and resilience in the face of the challenges our postmasters face every day. If the initiative means helping just one Postmaster, then we have done our job successfully.”

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The new initiative was created in collaboration with National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP) and Voice of the Postmaster, in response to postmasters facing ‘siginificant adversity’ due to retail crime in recent years. The launch also coincides with increased concerns for retailer safety over Christmas, with a rise in footfall and higher stock levels to meet festive demand possibly leading to a ‘greater risk of criminal activity’. 

Tony Fleming, postmaster at Thorne PO, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, said the immediate support element has been “invaluable”.

He said: “I know first-hand the challenges of running a high street retail business and Post Office. We recently had an armed robbery in our branch which was incredibly difficult for the person faced with this violent threat, as well as the wider team. It’s a traumatic experience to go through as part of your day job and having the immediate support of the Wellbeing resource was invaluable – it really was wellbeing personified and gave me and everyone in the branch the support to get back to doing what we do best, serving our fantastic community in Thorne.”  

Christine Donnelly, non-executive director of NFSP, said: ”From a postmaster perspective this works on several levels. It is an easily accessible resource that offers advice and facts, but it also says by implication that we care, that participants from different areas of the business recognised a need and worked together to make it the best it could be. It says you are not alone or the only one – how can you be if there is a whole site available?”

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