Cpt_Pugwash
9th Jun 2009, 10:28
May be a storm in a teacup, but something of an own goal for Sainsburys....
From a local newspaper article here (http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/4406117.Wiltshire_Air_Ambulance_Appeal_told_to_buzz_off/).
"
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal has been ordered to remove fund-raising clothing banks from three Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Wiltshire because the company favours other charities.
Danny Williamson, the owner of Devizes Textiles, who runs the clothing bank scheme for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance said he was disgusted at the actions of Sainsbury’s which has told him the banks at their branches in Calne, Melksham and in Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, must be removed..
Mr Williamson has 17 Wiltshire Air Ambulance clothing banks at various locations in WIltshire. He set the scheme up earlier this year and got approval from the managers of the Sainsbury’s stores in Calne and Swindon to change over existing clothing banks he had there to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.
Melanie Gee, administrator of the appeal, got permission from the manager of the Melksham branch of Sainsbury’s for a clothing bank to be sited there.
Last week Ms Gee received a letter from James McKechnie, recycling and resources manager at Sainsbury’s head office, telling her the clothing banks had to go.
Mr McKechnie says in his letter: “We have specific agreements in place with Oxfam and the Salvation Army to provide textile recycling banks and we are now trying to rationalise our sites, because as you will appreciate that the presence of other banks are detrimental to the interests of our preferred suppliers.”
Mr McKechnie also says if the Wiltshire Air Ambulance clothing banks are not removed by June 4 Sainsbury’s will give the banks to the Salvation Army or Oxfam for their use.
Ms Gee and Mr Williamson have both written to Sainsbury’s head office requesting the banks stay but Sainsbury’s has refused.
Ms Gee said: “I am really disappointed. Sainsbury’s is promoting small charities to mark its 140th birthday celebrations and each store is raising money for a chosen charity. On its website Sainsbury’s says ‘By supporting a local charity we can give something back to the community by helping with fun-raising and volunteering’ yet that is exactly what Sainsbury’s is not doing in relation to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.”
Mr Williamson donates what he pays for clothes, shoes and handbags put into the clothing banks to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal. He then sells the goods, mostly to African countries, where they are sold to people.
The three clothing banks at the Sainsburys stores have raised on average £400 a month for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.
Mr Williamson said: “I don’t understand why Sainsbury’s has taken a harsh attitude. I think it is disgusting. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance saves lives and can potentially benefit every single person in WIltshire. It also helps reduce crime because it is a joint helicopter with the police.
“Other supermarkets are supporting it by having clothing banks in their car parks.”
Mr Williamson has set a target of raising more than £10,000 a year for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal from the clothing banks.
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal has to raise £500,000 a year to keep the air ambulance flying and relies entirely on donations from the public. "
From a local newspaper article here (http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/4406117.Wiltshire_Air_Ambulance_Appeal_told_to_buzz_off/).
"
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal has been ordered to remove fund-raising clothing banks from three Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Wiltshire because the company favours other charities.
Danny Williamson, the owner of Devizes Textiles, who runs the clothing bank scheme for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance said he was disgusted at the actions of Sainsbury’s which has told him the banks at their branches in Calne, Melksham and in Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, must be removed..
Mr Williamson has 17 Wiltshire Air Ambulance clothing banks at various locations in WIltshire. He set the scheme up earlier this year and got approval from the managers of the Sainsbury’s stores in Calne and Swindon to change over existing clothing banks he had there to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.
Melanie Gee, administrator of the appeal, got permission from the manager of the Melksham branch of Sainsbury’s for a clothing bank to be sited there.
Last week Ms Gee received a letter from James McKechnie, recycling and resources manager at Sainsbury’s head office, telling her the clothing banks had to go.
Mr McKechnie says in his letter: “We have specific agreements in place with Oxfam and the Salvation Army to provide textile recycling banks and we are now trying to rationalise our sites, because as you will appreciate that the presence of other banks are detrimental to the interests of our preferred suppliers.”
Mr McKechnie also says if the Wiltshire Air Ambulance clothing banks are not removed by June 4 Sainsbury’s will give the banks to the Salvation Army or Oxfam for their use.
Ms Gee and Mr Williamson have both written to Sainsbury’s head office requesting the banks stay but Sainsbury’s has refused.
Ms Gee said: “I am really disappointed. Sainsbury’s is promoting small charities to mark its 140th birthday celebrations and each store is raising money for a chosen charity. On its website Sainsbury’s says ‘By supporting a local charity we can give something back to the community by helping with fun-raising and volunteering’ yet that is exactly what Sainsbury’s is not doing in relation to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.”
Mr Williamson donates what he pays for clothes, shoes and handbags put into the clothing banks to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal. He then sells the goods, mostly to African countries, where they are sold to people.
The three clothing banks at the Sainsburys stores have raised on average £400 a month for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.
Mr Williamson said: “I don’t understand why Sainsbury’s has taken a harsh attitude. I think it is disgusting. The Wiltshire Air Ambulance saves lives and can potentially benefit every single person in WIltshire. It also helps reduce crime because it is a joint helicopter with the police.
“Other supermarkets are supporting it by having clothing banks in their car parks.”
Mr Williamson has set a target of raising more than £10,000 a year for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal from the clothing banks.
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal has to raise £500,000 a year to keep the air ambulance flying and relies entirely on donations from the public. "