Foreign Currency Donation Scheme

26/02/2019

The Guernsey Friends of Air Search are delighted to announce the launch of a new foreign currency donation scheme, in partnership with BATIF Bureau de Change and Guernsey Post.

It is always a challenge for charities to find exciting new fundraising ideas, and as we frequently receive donations of foreign currency in our collection boxes throughout the Channel Islands, this new initiative provides us with a great opportunity.

The scheme will help Channel Islands Air Search (CIAS) to harness another valuable source of funds. Whilst CIAS is run entirely by volunteers, it costs around £160,000 annually to keep the service in the air.

During 2019, the target is for the foreign currency programme to raise £6,000, to cover the cost of 30 fire-resistant Nomex flight suits for our volunteer crew.

Anyone wishing to donate their leftover holiday money - or indeed unwanted coins or bank notes of any kind, including those which are obsolete - may do so through the BATIF Bureau de Change in St. Peter Port, collection boxes at Guernsey and Alderney Airports, one of our yellow collection boxes at Guernsey Post branches (excluding Co-ops) or other outlets throughout the Bailiwick. We recommend that larger quantities are handed in at BATIF, passed to a Guernsey Friends of Air Search volunteer at one of our events, or alternatively please call (01481) 241182 to arrange for collection. 

Please look out for regular progress updates on our Facebook and Twitter accounts - as we pass each £200 increment, another grey suit will change to yellow. So if you've just returned from holiday and have unwanted currency left over - or if you're having a spring clean and are wondering what to do with the foreign cash you'd forgotten about in the drawer at home, please do think of Air Search!

Our social media mascot Air Search Ted is looking forward to getting involved in the scheme too, along with Batif Bear - and on his travels this year Ted may well be posting some currency-themed updates!

The Guernsey Friends of Air Search would like to thank the teams at BATIF and Guernsey Post for their considerable help and support in helping us to launch and operate the foreign currency donation scheme.

We'll be happy to take that fistful of (Australian / Canadian / US!) dollars, pocketful of pesos, or shedload of shillings off your hands - let's turn all 30 suits yellow!