There are those of us of a certain age which will no doubt remember with fondness being urged to collect postage stamps for whichever Blue Peter Appeal was applicable at the time. It was almost a way of life. Blue Peter always made the best of what everybody else was going to throw away, whether it be cereal packets, the labels from Heinz Baked Bean tins, or more often than not, postage stamps.
And this is a habit I have never grown out of. I don’t think I can actually remember putting a postage stamp, still affixed to an envelope, into a bin…ever! Anybody who has ever worked with me has also been subject to my mandate on this as well – each company I’ve passed through on my journey through life has had a postage stamp collection policy enforced! And each year I diligently send them off to whichever charity needs them, historically Guide Dogs for the Blind, although sadly they don’t taken them any longer.
So why? Why would we bother to do this? Well because, as Blue Peter rightly established as early as 1962, used postage stamps equal cash to whichever charity wishes to collect them, so to throw postage stamps away is literally throwing away money that could be doing some good – a new hearing dog, research into whichever illness or disease needs it, support for those that need it most or other countless causes. So it really is a no brainer!
And if you decide to collect stamps yourself for a chosen charity, why not encourage others to do the same. A lot of charities will provide you with resources or materials including posters and collection boxes to help you with a collection at your place of work or school.
How Does It All Work?
- Stamps are usually sold by weight, and you can usually obtain a price per kilo. They are sold to dealers who will sell them on to collectors usually abroad.
- Any valuable stamps will be weeded out and can be sold for a higher price.
- Stamps are sold for anywhere from £7-40 for one kilogram stamps, with overseas stamps being worth more.
- Check out the charity of your choice for what they will receive as it can vary.
What to Do With My Stamps?
- Cut the stamp off the envelope, leaving around one centimeter of envelope or packaging around each stamp.
- Separate your stamps into:
- British
- Overseas including Jersey, Guernsey, Eire and Isle of Man
What Sort of Stamps Should I Collect?
- Any stamp will d0 – an ordinary first or second class has a value, although rarer, special and foreign stamps have more.
- The value of a stamp doesn’t matter, so one pence stamps can be grouped together with one pound stamps.
- And of course, if you’ve got an old stamp collection lying around, why not donate that while you are at it. First day covers and postcards are also worth hanging on to.
Where Should I Send Them?
Here’s out quick guide for you to choose your stamp collection beneficiary! This is by no means an exhaustive list – there are literally hundreds of charities collecting, large and small, but it certainly gives you somewhere to start. Click on the charity name to go to the relevant page on their website or download our WNWN Guide to Recycling Stamps for Charity for full contact details, additional resources and information.
RNIB : Stamp Recycling, PO Box 185, Benfleet, SS79 9BH
MacMillan Cancer Cancer Support : Charity Stamp Bureau in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, PO Box 469, Leeds, LS17 1HX
Against Breast Cancer : Breast Cancer Stamp Recycling Scheme, Against Breast Cancer, Leathem House, 13 Napier Court, Barton Lane, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3YT
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People : Xchange Masters Limited in aid of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR
RSPB : RSPB Stamps, PO Box 6198, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7
Great Ormond Street Hospital : Mike Grimwade, Great Ormond Street Hospital, 94 Eastwood Old Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 4RS
CLIC Sargent : 4th Floor, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, BS1 2NT or drop at a shop – for a store locator go to http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/in-my-area/CLIC-Sargent-Charity-Shops
Leukaemia Care : Xchange Masters Limited in aid of Leukaemia CARE, 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR
OXFAM: Drop off at your local shop – for a shop locater go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops
Dogs Trust : Jenny, 15 Wentworth Avenue, London, N3 1YA
Organising a Charity Stamp Appeal Yourself
If you have a reason to raise funds you can easily organise your own stamp appeal for charity. It really is quite a simple process and you can raise valuable funds for your chosen charity or local good cause. Here is a good place to start! The price per kilo can vary so do do some research, but it is all very straightforward indeed.
http://citadelstamps.co.uk/recycle-stamps/
http://www.pta.org.uk/Suppliers/Fundraising-Stamps-Ltd?category=Fundraising
http://www.fundraisingstamps.com/#!tips/cojr
Because They’re Worth It!
And if you think it sounds like a lot of work, here is our Role of Honour for amounts raised in 2015!
- Dogs Trust = £23,000
- RSPB = £13,000
- CLIC Sargent = £12,000+
- Hearing Dogs for the Deaf = £11,849
