A discount card benefitting the whole community
Over Christmas, as the publishers of Swanage Town Chimes and Wareham Tower Chimes, we tried to think of something positive we could create for the area for the New Year, and we think we may have cracked it!
In fact, when we mentioned our idea to help the local community to the Nationwide Building Society, straightaway they agreed to team up with ourselves to make it happen. An initiative that we hope will help not only local people and local community groups and charities, but local businesses too.
... to be called 'Love It Local'
Our concept is to create a ‘community card’ that will be on sale at the Swanage and Wareham branches of the Nationwide.
The idea is that this ‘Love It Local’ card can be used in the various local businesses taking part, all of which are making some sort of special offer.
We think this should help both hard-pressed local businesses and local shoppers by providing that extra incentive to go out shopping!
You will be able to find out all the great offers via the Swanage Town Chimes website, which being online means that businesses can change their offers frequently. We’ve already received some great ones that we hope to be announcing soon!
You choose which charity will benefit
But the other exciting and integral part of it happens through the selling of the cards. We expect them to be selling for £5.00 to £10.00 each and all this money will go to a local charity or good cause.
As to which charities will receive the donations will be determined soon by an online poll in which you can nominate your favourite(s). Then, once or twice a year, the Nationwide will make the transfer to the nominated charities.
So I hope you agree with us that it’s something positive for the whole community – locals, charities and businesses alike!
Nearly £15,000 raised for good causes in 2022
2022 was a good year for collaborative efforts too! Thanks to the generosity of the people of Wareham and Swanage, Wareham Tower Chimes, Swanage Town Chimes and Visit Wareham were involved in raising nearly £15,000 (£14,781.20 to be precise!) for various charities and good causes last year.
These included Dorset MNDA, British Red Cross, Friends of MS Purbeck, Allison Campbell Trust, St Mary’s Church Renovation Fund, Not Just Sundaes Community Cafe, and the Isle of Purbeck Art Club charity for local children.
This was through a combination of events including a Benefit Concert for Ukraine, Joseph Calleja Concert and Christmas Concert, the Saxon Festival, the Christmas Market, as well as various Art4Action exhibitions and auctions throughout the year. A huge thanks to all the groups and individuals that helped us in all of these events.
… and we hope we can get somewhere near that figure this year too!