CARING staff at St Catherine's Hospice have boxed up a clever idea for raising vital cash for the charity with the launch of a 'small change box' for loose change.

More than 6,500 colourful boxes have been sent to residents and businesses on the Hospice's mailing list and dozens more are expected to be dispatched shortly.

Each collection box has been designed to be situated somewhere convenient in the home or office for people to 'pop in' their loose change.

As a newspaper that is proud to support the good work of St Cath's, the Citizen has put a collection box on the front counter of our offices in Chapel Street.

The green boxes are an addition to the charity's existing cash collection schemes which include a string of charity shops, a cash prize lottery and various fun-filled charitable events throughout the year as well as a new top of the range car raffle with the chance of winning a new motor.

But while staff strive to pool in bundles of cash for the caring organisation they are calling on people to support their new campaign in a bid to help them raise more than £1.5million annually.

Hospice appeals manager John Nickson said: "The idea is that the boxes are put somewhere convenient in the house to pop spare change in and people sent us a cheque for the amount later in the year.

"This is a new idea and is aimed at making things easier for those who wish to make donations to us.

"It is only because of the on-going support that St Catherine's not only exists but, has grown and developed as it has. We are truly grateful to all our supporters and I hope that these money boxes will just make life easier."

Since it opened in 1985, St Catherine's Hospice has helped to relieve the suffering of dozens of people with cancer and other life threatening diseases.

But, with running costs mounting to £3 per minute, the hospice needs your help to maintain the high level of in-house and day centre care.

For more detail about the small change collection box or car raffle tickets call (01772) 324540.

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