New toner recycling Web site to fundraise for three charities
Howard Lake | 12 June 2003 | News
Fifteen year old Fergus Ferrier has set up Cartridges4charity, a new UK-wide Web-based recycling scheme that recycles printer consumables and mobile phones in aid of three charities.
Fergus has not only created the Web site himself, but he has also set up, implemented and managed the entire scheme from sourcing the companies that recycle the goods, to setting up the logistics of a Freepost address and free larger scale collection service. He has also handled all the site’s promotional activities.
The site raises funds for Andy Cole Children’s Foundation, SeeAbility, and Cardiac Risk in the Young. All of the money raised, minus an administration charge of 35p per cartridge, is donated and split equally between the three charities.
Fergus who attends Morrison’s Academy in Crieff, Scotland explains: “Previously I had been running a similar recycling project with a friend to raise some funds for our school. It seemed to go well, and I couldn’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be done on a larger scale to the benefit of some charities – as long as I could find time between my schoolwork and my social life, there was really nothing to stop me.”
He was particularly motivated by the fact that people told him he would never be able to do it.
Lisa Waumsley, Marketing Fundraiser for charity SeeAbility, said: “When Fergus told me he was only 15 years of age I did question the idea, but after having spoken to Fergus on the ‘phone he had an extremely mature and professional manner. He has far surpassed every expectation I had, and we’ve already received our first cheque.”
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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.