The Post Office has announced a new charity fund matching scheme for subpostmasters.

The ‘Your Charity, Your Community’ scheme is offering to match charity fundraising of up to £200 to post offices.

Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, the activities covered by the scheme include raising money for a registered charity through a sponsored or other fundraising event; raising funds to support a community scheme such as buying sports kit for a local football team; refurbishing a community space; or supporting a community project such as buying a computer to provide IT training to the community.

Fundraising activities for directly political or religious charity organisations, or for individuals are not covered by the scheme.

Applications to the fund must be submitted at least four weeks before the event for validation by Charites Trust which is administering the scheme on behalf of POL. The funding year runs until 31 March 2015.

The money raised must be banked either through an online donations site such as Just Giving or Sponsor Me or, if in raised in cash, must  be paid in through Horizon in order for the scheme to pay the money.

Subpostmasters can apply to the scheme at www.subspaceonline.co.uk/community.