Institute of Fundraising launches #PounfForPound campaign
Charities could be quids in after people were encouraged to give their old pound coins to charity.
The Institute of Fundraising (IoF) and the Royal Mint wants the public to consider giving to good causes.
They say people could either donate old pound coins they have, or could give their first new pound coin, in a similar way that people gave their first new-style £5 note as part of the #firstfiver campaign.
This week saw the phasing in of the new, 12-sided, bimetallic £1 coin, and the phasing out of the old round ones, which will cease to be legal tender until 15 October.
Stephanie Siddall, policy officer at the IoF, said: “It’s estimated that over one third of the £1.3 billion worth of coins stored in piggy banks or jam jars around the UK, are the current £1 style. Government research suggests that that five per cent of the public would consider donating their old £1 coins to a charity when they cash them in.
“We’ve been working with the Royal Mint and others to encourage people to donate their old pound coins when they receive a new one, raising awareness using the hashtag #PoundforPound.”
According to research at the end of last year, the #FirstFiver campaign raised over £12.5 million for charity, and the IoF is convinced that its #PoundforPound campaign can raise even more.
Charities such as Macmillan and the NSPCC have already begun to encourage their supporters to donate pound coins.
