Stamps (and other things) Wanted!WRG Stamp Bank is alive and well and continues to raise money for canal restoration. How it works is simple I collect items which can be sold for cash or exchanged for goods, either for direct use or to sell on. What do I collect? As the name suggests, the main activity involves stamps; new or used, UK or overseas. It would be really helpful if stamps from the general mail were left on paper, trimmed with a margin of about 6mm (1/4 inch) all round. I spend many hours cutting surplus paper from the stamps which have been received: this is the philatelic equivalent of brick cleaning and I have a large backlog if anyone is interested in helping out its actually quite therapeutic! Stamp collections can be sold in albums or stock books and there is no need to unmount these. When the stamps have been sorted they go to the Shropshire Union Canal Society to help fund work on the Montgomery Canal. Aluminium can be sold for recycling if collected in sufficient quantity. Cans and foil are the main sources, preferably crushed to reduce the volume. Steel cans should be avoided (if it is attracted to a magnet its steel) as they have little value. Foil comes in many forms; as milk bottle tops, food/takeaway trays, yogurt pot lids, wrapped round chocolate, etc, but please avoid plastic packing which looks like foil crisp packets and the like. Generally, if you screw it up and it stays put its aluminium; if it tries to spring back to shape its plastic. Old aluminium saucepans and other items are also accepted. When sufficient has been amassed the aluminium is transported to York, where the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society has an arrangement with a local scrap dealer who is prepared to pay for what, to him, are small quantities. Coins and banknotes are also accepted. If current, these can be collected together and sold to someone visiting the appropriate country. If old, they can be sold to dealers, or as a last resort can be melted down! The main recipient of these is the Chichester Ship Canal Trust in Hampshire. A traditional source of income for Stamp Bank has been trading stamps; Green Shield and the like. Yes, people still find these tucked in the back of drawers and send them in. Coupons for exchange for items, as
given for example by petrol companies, are also welcome. Unfortunately
cigarette vouchers are now worthless as the schemes have been shut down
to discourage smoking. This is a shame because the catalogues used to
have useful items like digging spades and steel tape measures which
could be used directly by restoration groups, as well as providing sale
items or raffle prizes. I currently need someone who has As one source of income dries up, another opens. A relatively new venture is collecting empty toner and ink jet cartridges and old mobile phones. These are sold to raise money for the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal. Again, it is the accumulation of small quantities into bulk amounts that makes the venture worthwhile. We have also done well with a collection of old die-cast models Dinky Toys and the like. Please turn out your old toy box and pass on your old model cars, whatever their condition. How much is raised? This is difficult to answer, as much material goes to canal societies to add to what they collect themselves. The target for stamps is £1000 a year and Stamp Banks aluminium contributes a reasonable proportion of the £400-500 a year made by PCAS. Items of goods can be used can be used as sales items of raffle prizes to indirectly add to a canal societys funds. Toner cartridges vary tremendously depending on type, but some can realise as much as £5. How do you get stuff to Stamp Bank? Quantities which can be posted can be sent to IWA/WRG Stamp Bank, 33 Hambleton Grove, Emerson Valley, MILTON KEYNES MK4 2JS. We have a collecting point at the IWA stand at the National Waterways Festival (look for the blue barrel) and other events that the IWA attends. I can sometimes make arrangements to collect larger quantities through various contacts around the waterways system - contact steve@morleytowers.org.uk or phone 01908 520090. If digging with Essex WRG, bring stuff with you! Who benefits from Stamp Bank? The
main recipients have been mentioned, but in recent years projects such
as the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, the Buckingham Canal Society and
regional WRG groups have received donations in cash or kind. Although
were not talking Heritage Lottery Fund millions, Stamp Bank makes a
valuable contribution towards various schemes running costs which would
otherwise have to be found from elsewhere. Thank you to all, known and
anonymous, who have contributed in the past and all future contributions
will be most welcome. |