I can't quite fathom how Children of Watamu got such a hold on me so quickly. Historically I wouldn't describe myself as a particularly good neighbour, never mind 'charitable'. I don't watch the big charity day things on the telly, and in fact the 'big' charities just don't seem to do anything for me.
Children of Watamu have unique appeal through being a small charity and locally based, and in that 100% of the money raised goes straight to the kids. It feels more worthwhile because you feel part of it and you know your individual contribution represents a far greater proportion of the whole than if you were giving to one of the charity giants.
And then of course there's Sue and Dave. What they've achieved is both humbling and uplifting. You feel involved, and you want to be a part of it because of the vibrancy you can feel.
My nephew is 21 and at a bit of a loose end as, probably, most new graduates are. I suggested he considered doing a bit of charity work to use his time fruitfully and to improve his CV. He described the phone call to Sue as 'the biggest of his life', she gave him motivation and from then on we were all hooked!
That's why we at SwatchBox are calling in your old, unwanted mobile phones. They will be sent off to be recycled, and the money we get for them will be used to buy the material and make, at cost price, the 60 pairs of curtains Sue needs for the Happy House .
At the same time old mobiles won't be going into landfill, so it's doing a bit for the planet too.
Sue is inspirational, but as a newcomer to all this, I'm struck at how rewarding helping her charity makes me feel. In particular it's exciting how quickly things seem to happen.
'That's because it's right' said Sue.
Then a chance phone call, a shrewd piece of advice from Blackpool Gazette journalist Elizabeth Gomm and Melinda Messenger agreed to back what we are doing to help the Happy House... posing for pictures to show it!
Must be because it's right, hey Sue?
*Please search out your old, unwanted mobile phones, and chargers, and just drop them into your nearest SwatchBox. We'll do the rest!
Swatchbox stores at:
25/27 Mesnes Rd, Wigan, WN1 2DG. Tel 01942 824001
374 Talbot Rd, Blackpool, FY3 7AT Tel 01253 392665
32 Harrowside, Blackpool, FY4 1LY Tel 01253 404487
502/504 Blackburn Rd, Bolton, BL1 8NW Tel 01204 300178
4/6 Buxton Rd, Stockport, SK2 6NU Tel 0161 477 5603
Bob Lees.
