Blantyre Family Shopper store lead the way in Recycle and Reward initiative.
The Haven, a registered charity which provides support to people affected by a range of life limiting illness and to their family members and carers and supports people across the whole of North and South Lanarkshire through its centres in Blantyre, Wishaw and Forth, is one of the first local charities to benefit from the innovative pilot scheme ‘Recycle and Reward’ running in Blantyre’s Family Shopper store.
The scheme, which offers customers money back for recycling empty bottles and cans, has so far generated a massive £430 for The Haven. This is part of a trial that Family Shopper owner, Mo Razzaq, has set up in concern Scottish Government’s Deposit Return Scheme, which aims to encourage people to recycle more and limit the amount of used drinks containers going to landfill. This is expected to be launched nationally late 2020.
The scheme involves Reverse Vending Machines, which are automated machines that use advanced technology to identify, sort, collect and process used cans and plastic bottles. Once an item is accepted by the machine the person will receive a credit for each can or plastic bottle recycled, at this point they will have several options as to where they would like this credit to go to. The Haven is 1 of 6 local charities selected to be supported from the Return and Reward scheme at Family Shopper each month. At the end of each month, the credits are calculated and counted for each nominated charity. Each charity is then given the correct percentage amount of the £250 which Family Shopper kindly donates on a monthly basis.
The Haven is appealing for the local community to get behind the scheme, and urge the community to select The Haven, who will reap the rewards of the scheme if it is strongly supported.
Commenting on the scheme Scott Cunningham MBE, Haven Fundraising Officer said: “In only a few short months, £430 has been raised for The Haven and we would just like to thank Family Shopper and all the people in the local community including High Blantyre Primary who have chosen to recycle their rubbish and select The Haven as their chosen charity.
“This is an incredible fundraising initiative that brings with it so many benefits as more people are being encouraged to recycle to sustain the environment as well as it working to help sustain our Haven services that are so important to the local community.
“The Haven offers a programme of support designed to help individuals cope with the physical, emotional and practical aspects of their illness and to enable them to face the future positively and with hope. We are so grateful to Family Shopper for their continued support to our charity and we applaud them for being involved in this pilot.”
Family Shopper owner Councillor Mo Razzaq adds: “We are currently trialling this scheme in our Family Shopper store and already we cannot believe the results we are seeing in just three months. The support the local community has shown so far has been incredible and we are so thankful to them for their support in helping to make a difference to our environment.
“The scheme is also incredibly important as it is enabling us to support local charities such as The Haven. We are proud supporters of The Haven and do all we can to help raise much needed funds to ensure the services are around for as long as possible to support our local community.”
For more information on how The Haven can support you or how you can support The Haven please visitwww.thehavencentre.com Alternatively you can call us on 01698 727 884 or email info@thehavencentre.com
