People in Strabane urged to apply for voucher scheme

THE Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has urged anyone in the Strabane area who hasn’t yet applied for their £100 ‘Spend Local’ card to do so as soon as possible.

The online portal and accompanying telephone service will close on Monday 25 October. After this date it will no longer be possible to apply for the £100 pre-paid Spend Local card.

When an applicant receives their card, they will need to verify the card through a computer-operated phone system or text message and make the first payment using a personal identification number (PIN), before they can start to use it for contactless payments.

Meanwhile businesses across the District have been reporting an increase in the number of people using their £100 Spend Local cards.

The High Street Scheme’s prepaid cards have been landing in thousands of letter boxes across Northern Ireland this week after a massive public response to the scheme.

With around 1.4million people eligible to receive a Spend Local card, it is hoped businesses across the retail, hospitality and service sectors as well as the wider community will receive a much-needed economic boost.

Therefore, shoppers in the Strabane area are being urged to spend their £100 wisely so businesses impacted by the pandemic receive the maximum benefit.

With just one week left to apply, the Minister said: “The response to the High Street Scheme has been magnificent and our retail, hospitality and service sectors are now starting to feel the benefit of the extra spend that it brings.

“I would appeal to those people who have yet to apply for their pre-paid £100 Spend Local card to do so now through the online portal on NI Direct.

“By applying for, receiving and spending your card you will be supporting your local shops, hospitality and other services which have been most affected by the economic impact of Covid-19.”