Turn Your Spring Cleaning Clutter Into Charity Cash

If the recent spells of good weather gave you the urge to get out in the garden or garage for a spot of spring cleaning, take a closer look at what you found whilst rummaging around, because according to Calor, many of us are hoarding clutter that could be easily turned into cash for charity.

Calor is urging people all around the country to sort through the rubbish in their sheds, garages and gardens to look for empty gas cylinders. Why? Because for every Calor gas cylinder that is returned to a Calor Gas Direct outlet, Calor will donate £5.00 to the children’s charity ChildLine as part of its year long ‘Gift of the Gas’ fundraising campaign.

Andrea Price, spokesperson for Calor, said: “Our research shows that there are around 12 million empty and unwanted Calor gas cylinders from appliances like barbecues and patio heaters that are sitting in garages and sheds all around the country. If just a fraction of these cylinders were to be returned to a Calor Gas Direct outlet in exchange for a £5.00 donation each to ChildLine, imagine how much money could be raised to help children in danger and distress.

“We have had a great response to our ‘Gift of the Gas’ fundraising campaign already with hundreds of Calor gas cylinders being returned across the country. We have already raised thousands of pounds for ChildLine and we’re expecting to see an increased number of cylinder returns over the next couple of weeks as the weather improves and the spring cleaning season really kicks in.”

For anyone who hasn’t yet cleared their garden or garage of rubbish in preparation for sunnier days ahead, follow these top tips from spring cleaning experts, The Clutter Clearing Consultancy, on how to rid rooms of rubbish and turn clutter into cash.

Top tips for anyone wanting to clear their clutter:

1. Decide where you want to start, how much you want to do, and what you want to achieve. It takes longer than you think to clear out a cluttered garage, so why not start with a corner cupboard that you might want to clear.
2. Be clear about what categories of things you may find and decide what you’re going to do with them. For example, what will you do with old bikes that your children had when they were 5, but now they’re teenagers or left home?
3. Be clear about what is going to live where when you’ve finished. You may have some garden tools in the shed AND the garage, but wouldn’t it be easier to see and know what you’ve got if they all lived in the shed?
4. Reward yourself each time you’ve spent about an hour clearing your clutter.
5. Make sure you only put back in your garage or shed those things that you will definitely use in the coming year. We all have good ideas and intentions of using things that we forgot we had yet never do.

Calor gas cylinders can be returned to any participating Calor Gas Direct outlet in the UK until 31 October 2005. For every cylinder returned prior to this date, Calor will automatically donate £5.00 directly to ChildLine.

For further information about Calor and to locate your nearest participating Calor Gas Direct outlet, telephone 0800 121 4461 or visit www.caloralfresco.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

Cylinder amnesty terms and conditions:

1. £5.00 (+VAT) for every Calor Gas, Eurogas or Budget Gas LPG cylinder returned to Calor Gas Limited will be paid by Calor Gas Limited to ChildLine Trading Limited which covenants all its taxable profits to ChildLine (a registered charity number 1003758).
2. Calor cannot accept any competitor cylinder brands, only those brands stated in clause 1 above.
3. Donation of a cylinder implies that you are legally entitled to be in possession of the item being returned.
4. This campaign excludes gas refill purchases.
5. No cash or donations to alternative charities or individuals are available.
6. The Charity Campaign is valid only at participating Calor Gas Direct outlets and until 31st October 2005.

ChildLine:

ChildLine is the UK’s free, 24-hour helpline for children in danger and distress. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people. The number for children to call is 0800 1111. Lack of funds means that lines can be busy, so children may have to redial several times before they get through. For more information visit ChildLine’s website at: www.childline.org.uk.

ChildLine’s chair and founder, Esther Rantzen, said: “Every day calls from around 2,300 children are answered by ChildLine, but the enormous demand for our service means that hundreds more children who may be desperate for help are unable to get through to speak to a ChildLine counsellor.

“Children call ChildLine about all kinds of problems - because they are suffering abuse, being bullied, have run away from home or are worried about school exams. Whatever their problems, ChildLine is there for them 24-hours a day, every day.

“Calor is helping to raise funds for ChildLine to ensure that more children reach the vital support, advice and protection that our helpline counsellors provide. Please support the ‘Gift of the Gas’ campaign and help ChildLine to transform more children’s lives.”

Issued on behalf of Calor by Bright, 10 St Catherine’s Court, Herbert Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3QE For further information please contact Leona Abson/Michelle Simpson/Victoria Crowe at Bright on Tel: +44 (0) 121 711 5000 Fax: +44 (0) 121 711 5001 or Email: leona@bright-consultancy.co.uk

Click here to download this press release in Word format

Ref: CACHPR13
Released: April 2005

Image Download

Calor - the UK's leading LPG supplier
Calor gas cylinders / bottled gas
Calor LPG bulk tanks