Jewellery recycling

fredboris

My school ptfa, are going to be recycling jewellery via jewelleryrecycling.org to me it seems a bit fishy, has anyone used them before? if so was it any good?

fengirl_2

Why not ask them to put you in touch with other schools or organisations who have held events so you can ask them yourself? If they are above board, they will be happy to do this.

milkybars

I took a look at their website. For an organisation that claims to have been first established in the 80s then made it big in 2007, their website is fairly poor. I have similar concerns as you seem to have.

They also claim to have worked with 900 schools so as fengirl suggested, they shouldn't have a problem putting you in contact with at least a few of these.

Since they're not a charity as such, they probably won't have a registered number.

I just googled the website address and there are a few schools/organisations that come up (with telephone numbers and addresses) that have done some jewellery recycling - you could try asking them directly as well as getting in contact via jewelleryrecycling.org too.

Browntoa

it's only registered to a private house , and is very vague on how much you earn from it , and how much they take as "costs" before you get any money

I'd copy the idea but take the items direct to a local pawnshop or cash generator type store , carefully log and photograph each item you are donated

Woofles

This school appear to have used this company, may be worth getting in touch.

http://www.revel.warwickshire.sch.uk/rsfa/news/jewellery-recycling

brightonman123

best wasy to 'recycle' jewellry is to SELL it! dont let someone else make a mint in the name of a charity.. (even though it may well be legit!)

fengirl_2

As this is a fundraising organisation, they cannot register as a charity, so I wouldn't see anything dodgy in that. It sounds to me like someone with a good moneymaking idea who is getting charities involved in order to get business. If they are above board they should be happy to give you details of other schools not listed on the website.

HappySad

can't you just bring old/broken/odd bits of gold/silver jewellery to any shop & get money for it?

mspring

I have used this company three times in my school (twice for school fund and once with the school council).

I wasn't sure the first time, but it was very good and very easy to use. There are other schools lised on its site which have given the same response as me.

Hope this helps,

Deputy Gunter Primary School :T
Birmingham

DistanceRunner

I have just received one of these recycling bags and also wonder about the ethics of the scheme.

mspring, you say the scheme is 'very good', but I wonder how you evaluate that. How do you know you received a fair amount for the items collected?

It strikes me as a bit too easy for the scheme providers to take a large chunk of profit for themselves. As long as the good cause gets some money without much effort and don't know the real value of items collected, they will be happy.

I could be being synical, but if I wanted to scam the older generation out of their valuables, what better way than to get their primary school grandchildren to ask them for a donation for their school?

I emailed them a couple of days ago to ask a few more details. So far no reply.

DistanceRunner

Quick update. Received email back. They take off costs then 25% of profits.

There doesn't seem to be any way for the good cause to check they are getting reasonable valuations.

Even assuming there is nothing 'going missing', a quick calculation based on 1500 events averaging £200 to the good cause weighs in at £100,000 to their company. Who's the real winner here?

Or am I missing something?