28 July 2026

Manchester newsagent named first PayPoint Community Champion Award winner

  • Ikram Vali, owner of Middleton News in Manchester, named the first winner of PayPoint's Community Champion Awards Programme
  • Ikram was recognised for over 26 years of serving his local community with a wide range of essential services
  • He receives free PayPoint service fees for 12 months and a £3,500 Community Project Sponsorship Fund to donate to a local initiative of his choice

Welwyn Garden City, 28 July: Today, PayPoint announces Ikram Vali, owner of Middleton News, Manchester, is the first recipient of its new Community Champion Awards Programme for retailers.

After launching the awards programme in June, Ikram has been named the first winner, receiving the All-Rounder award. The award celebrates retailers who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding service across PayPoint’s range of additional services, while making a meaningful contribution to their local community.

A PayPoint retailer for more than 26 years, Middleton News has expanded its service offering to help customers access everyday essentials close to home, while maximising opportunities to drive footfall and earn additional income. With strong uptake of PayPoint | BankLocal, ATM and parcel services, the store has evolved into a true community hub, alongside its traditional bill payment and card processing offering.

As part of the award, Ikram will receive:

  • Free PayPoint service fees for 12 months
  • A £3,500 Community Project Sponsorship Fund to donate to a local community initiative of his choice
  • Professional PR support, including local media engagement, social media assets, in-store POS materials and a professional photoshoot
Congratulations to Ikram on becoming the very first recipient of our Community Champion Awards programme. Retailers like Ikram are at the heart of their communities, providing trusted services that local people rely on every day. Middleton News is a fantastic example of how retailers can offer a full range of services to better serve their customers while growing their own business. We are delighted to recognise Ikram's commitment and look forward to supporting the community initiative he chooses through our £3,500 sponsorship fund.
Jo Toolan, Managing Director of Network Services at PayPoint
We're really proud to receive this award. Running a convenience store isn't just about selling groceries anymore. Customers expect us to offer things like parcels and access to cash services too. Those services make a real difference to local people, and they've also helped us build a stronger business. It's great to have all of that recognised and we're looking forward to using the community fund to give something back locally.
Ikram Vali, owner of Middleton News

The Community Champion Programme builds on PayPoint’s long‑standing partnerships with retailers across the UK and highlights those delivering strong performance while creating meaningful community impact. Future awards will recognise excellence across parcels, PayPoint I BankLocal and retailer improvement. 

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