A REGENERATION expert is encouraging residents and businesses to get behind a forthcoming town voucher scheme.

The “Mold Shop Local Voucher Scheme” is a brand new initiative organised and managed by Mold Town Council in response to the massive unprecedented challenges that the Coronavirus is having on the fabric of the town and community.

Joanna Douglass, Mold Town Council's business and regeneration officer, said: “A number of retailers in Mold sell the popular national High Street Vouchers - this can actually take spending away from our town of Mold.

"With the Mold Shop Local Voucher, the greatest benefit of all is all the money stays here in our local economy.”

The aim of Mold Town Council’s voucher is to encourage people back into town, shopping and spending money as well as boosting the local economy.

Once in circulation the vouchers will be available from the Town Council for the public to buy either for their own use or as gift voucher.

The vouchers will be able to be exchanged for goods or services at a number of local businesses, used to purchase weekly shopping, buying gifts, enjoying a pamper or an evening out.

The town council is also encouraging businesses in Mold to consider purchasing the vouchers as a ‘bonus’ for their employees.

During this period, many businesses are closed or operating a reduced service, so vouchers will not be available until restrictions are lifted and businesses are back open.

Over the next couple of months Mold Town Council will be contacting local businesses to discuss the voucher scheme and issuing sign up forms, as well as promoting and marketing the new initiative.

Once a number of business have signed up, as part of the promotion, a series of competitions will be run to engage with the community, and there will be a chance to win vouchers (vouchers to be presented once restrictions have been lifted).

The scheme aims to highlight the fantastic range of shops and services in Mold and if local businesses are to survive post Covid-19, the message to the community to shop local and use local services is more important than ever.

Once the scheme is launched (after lockdown restrictions lifted), vouchers received by the businesses in exchange of goods and services will be reimbursed for the entire value of the voucher by Mold Town Council on receipt of voucher and invoice.

Joanna Douglass added: "We have contacted a small number of businesses currently trading, all of whom have been very positive towards this scheme and have said that they would sign up to the scheme once the forms are available.

"Over the next month or so our aim is to contact local businesses and encourage them to sign up to the Mold Shop local voucher scheme.

"The only criteria required for businesses is that they have to be located in or trading in Mold (this includes the market traders).

"It’s free to join and once signed up, the business will be included in the listing of participating businesses to be promoted.

"Once up and running the list of businesses/service providers will be updated with any new businesses which come on board and we hope as many businesses as possible take part in the scheme.

"By taking part it will ensure all the money stays here in Mold, and it will promote more than ever we need to shop locally.”

The town council is currently at the stage of finalising the documentation ready to administer the scheme, following which the ‘Mold Shop Local/Mold Money’ will be promoted, encouraging as many businesses, traders and service providers to sign up to receiving these vouchers.

Businesses interested in signing up to the scheme or finding out more are asked to contact Joanna Douglass via email business@moldtowncouncil.org.uk or telephone 01352 758532.

Members of the public who are interested in purchasing the vouchers once launched are asked to sign up to the Town Council database to receive news from the town council which will include the release date of the vouchers.

All those signing up will be entered in to a prize draw and one person will receive £50 of Mold Shop Local Vouchers.

To be in with a chance, residents are asked to send an email with ‘shop local voucher’, their name and email address to events@moldtowncouncil.org.uk