Charity mobile phone recycling campaign raises thousands

A charity mobile phone recycling campaign has been sosuccessful that it is set to continue for another year.

Stonehouse-based Lister Unified Communications teamed up with Punchline-Gloucester.comto recycle old mobile handsets to raise funds for The Nelson Trust.

Lister recently handed over a cheque for more than £2,000 to the Stroud-basedcharity which brings long-term recovery to lives affected by substance use andmultiple disadvantages.

Rob Lister, managing director of Lister, said: "We are so pleased with how 2024 went, raising over £2,000 for The Nelson Trust, that we are going to continue the scheme again throughout 2025.

"Thanks, must also go to Blue Sky Signs, BiGDUG and Punchline-Gloucester.com for their help with this and, of course, the businesses and organisations that have collected and donated phones for the campaign so far.

"The Nelson Trust does such amazing work with their residential rehab treatment and women’s services. Just by donating your old phones helps raise really useful funds, raises awareness and shows that there are people out there who want to help bring hope and long-term recovery to people who really need our help. Please get involved as individuals and companies and dig out those old phones."

Andy Jarrett, The Nelson Trust's fundraising & events lead, received the cheque for £2,032.90 from Julie Weir, Lister's mobile customer services manager.

Andy said: "We are incredibly grateful for the continued contributions generated by this innovative scheme, led by the team at Lister Unified Communications and Punchline, from so many companies and organisations.

"This initiative has now raised nearly £3,000 to help fund disposable phones for women facing a crisis. Such support can be life-changing and help bring belief, hope and long-term recovery to lives affected by substance use and multiple disadvantages."

Mark Owen, editor of Punchline-Gloucester.com, said: "The response to the campaign has been fantastic with many businesses involved and getting the bins into the Growth Hubs with the backing of Blue Sky Signs and BiGDUG, but there's a long way to go. We believe we've just scratched the surface on it and so we will be coming out very shortly with a new campaign looking to double what we have done this year if possible. 

"There are thousands of phones tucked away in people's homes. We just need the volunteers to ask around in their offices, community centres and families for their old phones. Mywife's auntie collected over 20 phones from her parish church, but we need people to act as champions."

 
To volunteer as a mobile phone recycling champion in your workplace or to have your box of used mobile phones picked up, email andy.jarrett@nelsontrust.com or mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk

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