Oxfam will introduce a workplace charity stock donation scheme on 14 October.
The scheme, called Oxfam Collects, aims to bring in an extra £1 million worth of donated clothing, books, music and other unwanted goods directly through offices and workplaces across the UK.
Oxfam is aiming to work with up to 100 companies over the next year to follow in the footsteps of its pilot programmes with international law firm Freshfields and Aviva Investors.
Each organisation that participates also receives a corporate impact report that celebrates its employees’ contributions.
Recent research by Oxfam indicates that 17% of people have not donated anything to a charity shop in the past year, with a further 26% only donating once or twice. In addition, once the decision to donate to charity has been made, the most important factors when making a charity shop donation are ease and convenience.
Oxfam Collects has been set up to tackle these issues head-on by making donating to the charity as convenient as possible.
David McCullough, director of trading at Oxfam, said: “Our sixty years of experience tells us that donating unwanted goods to charity is very much part of British culture, but also that sometimes it is not easy to find the time to get down to your local shop.
“Oxfam Collects is designed to make donating your unwanted goods as easy as getting to work on a Monday morning. Even better, thanks to Gift Aid, not only does every donation raise 28% more to help us change lives, it also means we can tell you exactly how much you have helped us to raise.
“For thousands of people living in poverty around the world, joining Oxfam Collects could be the most important thing you do during your working day.”
James Smethurst, a partner at Freshfields, added: “Freshfields has a long pro-bono relationship with Oxfam and we are delighted to have been involved in piloting this highly innovative yet simple scheme.
“Feedback has been positive and staff have appreciated knowing how much money their unwanted items have raised and how Oxfam uses that money to fight poverty.
“We are currently on track to reach our goal of £15,000 in year one and are looking forward to participating in Oxfam Collects for some time to come.”
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