Richmond residents urged to donate old mobile phones

Mobile phone owners living in property to rent in Richmond are being urged to donate their old handsets to charitable cause.

A group of Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award participants are appealing to members of the public to hand over their unused mobiles as part of their volunteering section, with the support of Richmond Council.

Residents can donate their old or broken mobile phones at the receptions in the council's Civic Centre in Twickenham and Regal House.

Lady Eleanor Holles School students Georgina Reeves, Eleanor Bryant, Zahra Subjally and La Dymore-Brownall will send the phones off to be tested and then decommissioned or recycled.

All the funds raised will go to cancer research charity the Laura Crane Trust and the London Duke of Edinburgh Award's development fund for disadvantaged communities.

Councillor Christine Percival, Richmond Council's cabinet member for education, youth and children's services, described the children's involvement in the scheme as a "fantastic initiative".

"This is a very imaginative approach, which will give them a chance to raise money that will be very beneficial for their chosen charities," she said. "There are thousands of mobile phones lying broken or unused in drawers and cupboards.

"I urge residents to dig them out and donate them to this cause," Ms Percival added.

Georgina Reeves said the group chose the Laura Crane Trust because it is their school charity and they were "touched" by a talk given by a member of the charity last year.

"People should donate their mobile phones to the scheme as it not only provides vital aid for the Laura Crane Trust and for DofE, but it is also helping the environment by preserving natural resources and preventing the dumping of toxic materials on landfill sites," she commented.

Youngsters living in property to rent in the London borough of Richmond on Thames are set to enjoy a wide range of summer activities this year as part of Richmond Council's new 2011 summer programme.

Published 24th August, 2011

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