Timpson's small job – big difference campaign raises £2 million over 10 years for ChildLine
Howard Lake | 22 March 2010 | News
High street shoe repairer and key cutter Timpson has now raised £2 million for ChildLine with its ‘small job – big difference’ initiative which it launched in 2000. Staff across its 650 shops have carried out small jobs, such as gluing a sole or punching a belt hole, in exchange for a £1 donation to ChildLine.
To mark the achievement Timpson is holding a special charity week of ChildLine fundraising (22 – 28 March), encouraging more customers to make a donation in exchange for Timpson undertaking small jobs.
In addition Timpson will donate £1 to ChildLine, a service provided by the NSPCC, for every £10 a customer spends during the week.
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John Timpson, Chairman of Timpson’s Ltd, explained that the had the idea for the scheme after attending a dinner held by ChildLine in 2000. He said: “I feel very proud that a simple ‘eureka’ moment in the middle of the night 10 years ago has resulted in such a fantastic amount of money for ChildLine.
“At first I wondered whether customers would resent being asked to donate a pound for jobs that we used to offer for free. However, I need not have worried; most customers were happy to make a donation”.
ChildLine founder and President Esther Rantzen said: “I hope the public will support Timpson’s charity week and continue to donate through the small jobs – big difference initiative all year round. Timpson has shown just how a small gesture can help to provide a vital lifeline for abused, frightened children who have nowhere else to turn for help, and I hope any other businesses out there who feel inspired by this simple idea can also do something to help children in distress or danger.”
www.timpson.co.uk/locate
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.