Homeless shelter to introduce digital donations

Thursday 20 June 2019

With fewer people carrying cash in their pockets, one local charity is hoping to make fundraising easier thanks to a digital donation box that aims to replace traditional coin collectors.

The Sanctuary Trust will be receiving its first ‘Good Box’ within the next three weeks and is looking for businesses willing to welcome it to their countertops.

‘Good Box’ was founded in the UK "upon the insight that a cashless society is having a negative impact on the charity sector.” In its three years of existence, it has convinced over 200 charities, as well as churches with specially designed donation plates, and helped them raise over £1.5 million.

The National History Museum, one of Good Box’s clients, has reported a 64% increase in their donations since using the free-standing contactless fundraising units.

Pictured: The device can be carried at charity events with attachable lanyards and handles.

Debbie Jeffries, newly appointed to the role of fundraiser for Sanctuary Trust, heard of the digital donation boxes while researching different types of fundraising.

“A lot of people don’t have cash on them anymore because we are moving to a cashless society. They tend to use Apple Pay or their card to pay,” she explained. “I think we could be the first ones in the island to use the tap and pay technology for donating. It’s a sleek and small device. It’s a clever idea for donation, it’s cashless giving.” 

The charity can set a generic amount for donations, but generous islanders will be able to increase the amount, up to £30, should they wish to.

The device, which costs just under £400, can be placed or mounted on countertops to take contactless donations from customers, or carried at charity events with attachable lanyards and handles.

Video: Users only have to tap their card or phone to the device to make a donation to a designated charity.

With donations being so important for the activities of the men's homeless shelter, Ms Jeffries says she is keen to make giving easier for islanders. 

“Donations are really important for us,” she explained. “We can help up to 24 men in the island. Homelessness is relatively hidden. You don’t see people in the streets or in car parks, but it happens. You don’t see the couch surfing; the cramped bed sits where people share because they have no choice.

“We have men here for different reasons, whether it is domestic violence, illness… We are pretty much full. The average age at the end of May was 45, which is quite young. They stay with us three months on average.” 

“It’s a quick and easy way to donate,” she added. “You can use Apple Pay or your contactless card and just tap it on the device.” 

Having ordered the device, Ms Jeffries is now looking for local businesses willing to give it some space on their countertop. She is looking for 12 businesses in total with each being expected to keep the device for a month.

Three St. Aubin’s businesses have signed up so far – Nude Beach, Murray’s and the Muddy Duck – and Ms Jeffries is also in talks with St. Peter Garden Centre. She is therefore appealing to eight other businesses to get in touch.

“It doesn’t cost the business anything,” she explained. “You just plug it in. It’s clever technology, it tells you how much you have raised in which area. As it grows and develops, we will hopefully purchase another one.”