GMTV Launches ‘Come Home for Christmas’ Appeal
7 December, 2009
On Tuesday 8 December, GMTV will launch the ‘Come Home for Christmas’ appeal - asking their millions of viewers to recycle old or unwanted mobile phones in aid of the charity Missing People every day throughout the festive season.
GMTV viewers will be able to help Missing People, which provides support for missing children, vulnerable adults and their families by sending their phones in via a freepost address to electronics recycling partner ShP for Charity or dropping them in collection points at The Mall’s shopping centres across the UK.
For the first three days of the campaign both GMTV and GMTV with Lorraine will come together, for the first time, in asking viewers to recycle old mobile phones in aid of Missing People. This will offer an unprecedented level of coverage.
GMTV presenter, Lorraine Kelly said:“Whilst we are all looking forward to getting the whole family together this Christmas, for some Christmas is a time of sadness. Please get behind GMTV’s Come Home for Christmas campaign by donating your old mobile phone to the charity Missing People, helping them to track down missing relatives and make Christmas happy again.”
Lorraine, who is a Vice Patron of the charity, has also recorded a special trail to encourage members of the public to support the initiative, which will be available to view on www.gm.tv from 7 December.
For every phone received, Missing People will get £3.75 minimum through a special agreement with ShP for Charity that will look to maximise the amount of funds raised due to the massive potential of GMTV and the strong emotional pull of the cause.
Simon Walsh, Sales and Marketing Director of ShP for Charity said “we’re really proud to be part of this appeal with Missing People and GMTV. Through the great exposure and link up with GMTV and the Mall we really hope that we can help Missing People achieve their goals this Christmas and help families track down missing relatives.”
Chief Executive of the charity, Martin Houghton-Brown said: “GMTV viewers can join the search for the missing in a very easy way this Christmas – simply by recycling an unwanted phone.
“With the help of GMTV viewers and shoppers at The Mall, the charity can support families of the missing over the entire festive season, whenever they need us. Every phone makes a difference”
Old or unwanted phones will be recycled by electronics recycler ShP for Charity. To date, ShP for Charity has raised over £2 million pounds for charities of all sizes through mobile phone recycling programmes.
All phones recycled are reused, refurbished to be reused or recycled by ShP for Charity in the correct environmental manner in line with the EU WEEE Directive <http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html>.
To recycle a phone for Missing People visit www.gm.tv, visit The Malls nationwide or send it in an envelope addressed to GMTV, Freepost, SHP Solutions.
A campaign trailer can be viewed by clicking here. A message from Gordon Brown backing the appeal can also be seen here.
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