4000 bags of items were donated as part of British Heart Foundation's (BHF) 'Pack for Good' campaign, designed to encourage students to donate good quality, unwanted items such as second-hand clothes, utensils, electronic equipment, and books. These items were resold in local BHF charity shops, which aid in funding heart disease research.
Donation areas were set up at the end of the academic year to allow students an alternative to throwing quality items away. The campaign helps to reduce waste, but also supports the BHF’s mission to combat heart disease and promote heart health education.
Plummer House, owned by high-end accommodation company CollegiateUK, has 251 rooms with prices starting from £171 a week and the highest priced at £361 a week. To date, Collegiate UK has contributed over 57 tonnes of donated items, raising more than £142,534 for the charity.
Amanda Purkiss, BHF Partnership Manager, said: 'We have been delighted with the response from Collegiate UK students and their incredible support. Thanks to the generous donations from the students, we have been able to support our shops in local communities nationwide.'
Neil Burton, Managing Director of Collegiate UK, added:
Partnering with the British Heart Foundation is a fantastic way for us to give back to the community, and for students to contribute their unwanted items to a truly meaningful cause.
At the end of last academic year, NUSU funded free skips in Heaton and Jesmond promoted responsible waste disposal to help students clear excess household waste unsuitable for donation. The intuitive sought to foster a positive relationship between students, and local residents by avoiding littering and fly-tipping.
Previously NUSU, Northumbria’s Students union, and the city council have helped to collect over 10 tonnes of waste, both prevent fly tipping and overflow of communal bins that would put pressure on local waste management services.
Students, when having a clear out of their accommodations, are urged to donate items they no longer to use to charities to support the local community and keep Newcastle streets clean.