Yahoo News New one pound coin could bring wave of chuggers to Britain's streets
The new pound coin could bring a wave of chuggers to the streets this summer as the Government tells charities to get out with their buckets and collect old coins.
The 12-sided one pound coin enters circulation today, and replaces the familiar round £1 coin, which has been in circulation since 1983.
From Oct 15 2017, round pounds will cease to be legal tender, giving people six months to spend, bank or donate them.
In a bid to encourage people to give them to charity, the Royal Mint wants charities to increase their presence this summer, focusing on supermarkets, retail outlets and public areas, at points where people are likely to have their purses out.
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations' website says: "Now is the time to get planning about fundraising work your charity could do around the coin over the summer. We’ll be putting out more resources such as fundraising ideas in the coming months, but we know the best ideas will come from the voluntary sector."
Michael Birtwistle, a senior policy officer at the NCVO, said: "We're expecting big fundraising efforts over the summer, with lots of bucket collections linked up with gift aid. We're exploring creative ways to get people to donate at supermarket tills, for example, recreating something similar to the charity token system that already exists in many branches."
Government research suggests that there are millions of old pound coins saved up by the public in jam jars and piggy banks and about five per cent of people would consider donating them when they cash them in.
