Tiggy's Day Nursery in Hereford is enjoying spending its hard-earned cash after being crowned national champions in its category of a mobile phone recycling campaign, and raising more than 2,000 in the process.
In three months the nursery, which has just 40 pupils, collected over 400 mobiles, beating all the competition in both regional and national competitions for schools with under 100 pupils.
The Fones4Schools campaign seeks to re-use mobile phones while educating pupils and families on the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. Schools receive 300 from Fones4Schools for every 200 phones collected, and children also receive prizes which increase in value with the number of phones they collect.
Kate Watkins, owner of Tiggy's nursery, says of winning the title, 'It was very exciting. We got the first phone call saying we had won the national championship and would receive an extra 500. I had just put the phone down and was starting to tell everyone, when the lady from Fones4Schools called again to say we had also won the regional championship and an additional Pounds 150 prize money!'
Tiggy's involvement began after Kate saw a promotional leaflet about the campaign aimed at schools. Spotting the opportunity to raise funds for an outdoor play area at the nursery, she contacted Fones4Schools to register the nursery and wasted no time getting the campaign under way.
Kate says of Tiggy's success, 'It was very much a joint effort on behalf of nursery staff, parents and the community. We also had a handful of parents who really gave it their all, taking marketing materials into work, asking families, friends and contacts and calling local businesses to encourage them to take up the cause. One parent even built up enough points to buy a brand new computer which he donated to the nursery.'
Cash and prizes
Fones4Schools makes everything simple for schools taking part, supplying promotional materials, collection bags for parents to take into the workplace, educational materials linked to the national curriculum and collecting the phones free of charge by courier.
As Gemma Bullivent, marketing co-ordinator at Fones4Schools, says, 'It works well in that there is something in it for the child and the school.'
Kate Watkins agrees and says although it was difficult for the young children at the nursery to understand the concept of recycling, 'they still had great fun playing with the mobile phones people donated to us! Fones4Schools is a fantastic idea which helped to raise money for our nursery as well as helping the environment.'
So far, Tiggy's has spent some of the prize money on essentials such as skipping ropes, footballs and an indoor playhouse for the winter, but plans to put the majority towards developing an outside play area for the children. Meanwhile, Tiggy's recycling campaign is still going strong. 'We are still collecting mobile phones and have just sent in another 150,' says Kate.
Large amounts
Several other nurseries have excelled in the Fones4Schools campaign.
Orchard Barns Kindergarten in Colchester, Essex has raised over 1,400 and Our Place Pre-School in Hedge End, Hampshire has raised over 1,000 with just 22 children, outperforming many larger schools taking part.
Gemma Bullivent is unsurprised by these achievements, saying, 'Nurseries and primary schools often do better than secondary schools. They tend to become more of a community project.'
Early years providers such as Tiggy's have shown how childcare settings can help the environment, raise awareness of recycling and raise funds all at the same time. As Pete Petrondas, chief executive of Eazyfone Group, says, 'Tiggy's Day Nursery is a perfect example of how how even smaller schools can raise large amounts.'
Fones4Schools
* Fones4Schools is the largest mobile phone recycling campaign for nurseries, schools and colleges in the UK.
* Since its launch in 2004, the scheme has given away over 750,000 in cash and prizes.
* Schools receive 300 for every 200 phones collected.
* Children receive prizes which increase in value with the number of phones collected.
* In the last 12 months, it has collected over 250,000 phones, which are recycled or re-used in developing countries.
* Over 4,000 schools are taking part in Fones4Schools.
* The scheme was set up by mobile phone recycling company Eazygroup Ltd.
* To register for the Fones4Schools campaign call Fones4Schools on 01625 667867 or e-mail registrations@fones4schools.co.uk.
* For more information visit www. fones4schools.co.uk.