The hospice, based in the north west of England, is hoping that the innovative scheme will raise thousands of pounds to help them care for local people in need of their specialist care.
The idea came about when John Fellowes, Head of Fundraising at the hospice, was on the verge of throwing away some old keys, when it occurred to him that he could recycle them.
John researched the idea in the local area and discovered that there were not any local key recycling schemes.
“It is a recognised fact that most people will have sets of redundant keys sat lying around the house, taking up room at the bottom of drawers or at the bottom of wardrobes,” said John.
“They may have moved house and still have their old sets of keys, locks may have been changed or as in most cases people will just have accumulated keys over the years.”
John continued: “It’s a simple idea and we are hoping for all types of keys to be donated, brass, steel, tin, and aluminium keys – they will all help and it’s just not old house keys we would like.
“Old padlock keys, old shed keys, old bike lock keys are just a few of the types of keys we are hoping people will donate – in fact we could even recycle the old locks as well.”
And the hospice has already received a hefty contribution of keys from an unlikely source: the local police force. Tameside Police donated a dustbin full of lost keys to Willow Wood’s key recycling scheme.
Key collection boxes will be placed in the hospice shops in the surrounding area and there is also a collection point in the reception of the hospice itself.
And Willow Wood are also encouraging businesses and schools to do the same, providing the equipment for others to set up there own mini Willow Wood recycling centre.
For further information on how to recycle your keys or to set up a your own key recycling scheme for Willow Wood Hospice, visit the website or contact John Fellowes.
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