Supporters pledge to be a #fivergiver with the new £5 note
Howard Lake | 17 September 2016 | News
Charities are asking the public to donate the first of the new design £5 notes that they receive.
The new design of the £5 note, featuring Sir Winston Churchill and printed for the first time on polymer, was introduced into circulation this week.
Corporate fundraising specialist John Thompson introduced the idea last night on Twitter:
I'll donate the first new five pound note I get to a charity. Will you?
#fivergiver— John Thompson, aka Johnny Five (@JTCHANGINGBIZ) September 16, 2016
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It rapidly found favour, and has been shared and adopted by both individuals and charities.
Several hashtags are being used to help the simple idea spread, including:
- #fivergiver
- #firstfiver
- #givefive
@JTCHANGINGBIZ 's idea let's get everyone's first new fiver donated @liztait @RoxyMartinique @AstaritaMark @bernardrossmc @howardlake
— Matt Cull (@MatthewCull1) September 16, 2016
Morning! Would you – our supporters – be a #fivergiver ? #donate here: https://t.co/AKab5XzlCd Thank you! Pls RT https://t.co/OYTSK14hnt
— Chilterns Neuro Centre (@ChilternsNeuro) September 17, 2016
Here's simple way to show #refugeeswelcome – donate your 1st new fiver to a charity helping refugees! #givefive #firstfiver #WeStandWithYou
— Joe Jenkins (he/him) 🧡 (@MrJoeJenkins) September 17, 2016
People are pledging to give their first new fiver to charity. Which charity will your first fiver go to? #firstfiver #givefive
— NCVO (@NCVO) September 17, 2016
They say you can do a lot with the new plastic fivers. How about donating it to charity? #givefive #firstfiver pic.twitter.com/gcj2gwzqPo
— Chartered Institute of Fundraising (@CIOFtweets) September 17, 2016
Would you donate your #FirstFiver to us and help children with brain injury? #Fiver #FiverChamp #FiverGiver pic.twitter.com/ARUKvEWnbM
— The Children's Trust (@Childrens_Trust) September 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/hughperry/status/777228415825051649
Great idea. I'm going to donate my #firstfiver to the @mndassoc. #givefive https://t.co/1qLXWPs7T1
— Robert Maguire (@FD_RobM) September 17, 2016
My #firstfiver – or rather my 1st 2 fivers – will be donated to @EndometriosisUK @ArtAgainstKnive. Both sml charities making big difference
— Angela Style (@angelacstyle) September 17, 2016
Why not become a #firstfiver champ and give your first plastic fiver to @The_Blue_Cross
— Matt Cull (@MatthewCull1) September 17, 2016
We can put your #firstfiver to use – helping people to break the barriers caused by #disability, #mentalhealth or #dementia #givefive
— Guideposts UK (@GuidepostsUK) September 17, 2016
Great idea. I'll be giving mine to @EndometriosisUK #firstfiver
— Heidi Yule (@HeidiYule) September 17, 2016
Just got my #firstfiver and made a donation to a #charity I'll keep anonymous but who do awesome work in difficult places around the world.
— Mags Rivett (@magsrivett) September 17, 2016
Pledge to give your first new plastic £5 to us and together we will #MakeaDifference #firstfiver #givefive pic.twitter.com/h2cFcnKq7T
— Northumbria Blood Bikes (@NorthumbriaBB) September 17, 2016
Could you donate your first fiver to us? #givefive #firstfiver https://t.co/h3WFoIVUqe
— TheBreadKitchen (@breadkitchenGY) September 17, 2016
We have a game for you! When you get your first new £5 note, donate it here https://t.co/ZeBs0JbODc #firstfiver pic.twitter.com/I5XzFnXyps
— African Promise (@africanpromise) September 17, 2016
I'm in. Already got my #firstfiver so now it's on it's way to @MindCharity #givefive #firstfiver https://t.co/myfo5tg6uf
— Steph Taylor (@therealstephl) September 17, 2016
Be a #firstfiver champ and donate your first plastic fiver to @wheelpower https://t.co/YbRNTt3M5t pic.twitter.com/Sz9HuhMSGs
— WheelPower (@wheelpower) September 17, 2016
So many amazing #Devon charities working in local communities – which one will donate your #firstfiver to? #givefive https://t.co/FJMncnakgg
— DeVA (@Devon_VA) September 17, 2016
Lovely idea #givefive – mine goes to @arthritis_care ! https://t.co/tCzZ1OLf6b
— Judi Rhys MBE (@judirhys) September 17, 2016
Other new notes?
There is still time to try out this idea to boost support for your charity.
Equally, it has probably made you wonder about the next new design notes to be issued on polymer. So, here are the next opportunities from Bank of England notes. And don’t forget there are other banknote issuers in the UK.
- The new polymer £10 note featuring Jane Austen will enter circulation in Summer 2017.
- The new polymer £20 note featuring JMW Turner will enter circulation by 2020.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.