O2 Recycle for Rugby Campaign to donate all proceeds during QBE Internationals to England legend, Lawrence Dallaglio’s charity
Everyone has an old mobile phone handset or two gathering dust in their homes – under beds or sitting unused in the “junk drawer”. In fact, it is estimated that there are well over 68 million unused phones in the UK alone. Now, former-England superstar Lawrence Dallaglio has teamed up with mobile network O2 to put those old gadgets to a good use – all in the name of using rugby to change lives.
During QBE Internationals, O2 will donate all the proceeds from the phones and gadgets that go through its O2 Recycle scheme, to Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change. The Dallaglio Foundation’s Rugby for Change Programme is a street engagement initiative that uses the inspiration, discipline and team spirit of rugby to help young people at risk change their lives. The Programme will empower young people to build positive aspirations, take responsibility for their actions and feel valued in their communities.
The recycling scheme gives both O2 and non O2 customers the cash value of their phone – anything up to £260 for some handsets. So far, O2 has given customers over £61m for their recycled phones. Any profit made through recycled devices will be donated to Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change.
O2’s Recycle profits are normally channeled into their Think Big youth initiative. Recycle for Rugby is a special campaign aimed at showing how rugby can be a force for change, helping young people break through disadvantage. The scheme is not limited to old phones but will even take old iPods, digital cameras, SatNavs, tablets or games consoles, all with the promise of being responsibly recycled.
Lawrence Dallaglio comments:
“Having the support of O2 Recycle will help benefit thousands of young people especially those affected by gang culture.
“England’s Autumn International fixtures will see rugby fans in their droves descend on Twickenham. If we can persuade even a small portion of those coming to watch the matches to bring old gadgets to the games to drop in recycling bins and the fans at home to hand in their old devices at O2 Stores, it will have a massive impact for Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change. So I look forward to seeing you and your old handsets at Twickenham or O2 Stores this month.”
Bill Eyres, Head of Sustainability at O2, says:
“The Dallaglio Foundation’s efforts in supporting young people through rugby are inspiring and fit into our ethos of supporting young people through Think Big. We want to join forces this month, to create further opportunities within communities, helping young people into rugby and out of gang culture.
“O2’s connection with rugby is deep rooted so it seemed natural for O2 Recycle to look to support a rugby project which helps to raise young people’s aspirations and help them make positive choices about their futures.“
To get involved and make a difference all you have to do is go to www.o2recycle.co.uk and send off your old gadgets – you’ll get your payment in the post and O2 will contribute all of November’s proceeds to Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change.
You can also go to an O2 store during November or you can bring your old gadgets to one of England’s QBE International games. The RFU will be collecting phones at Twickenham so bring old gadgets along and keep an eye out for the recycling bins.
For more information on the Dallaglio Foundation go to: http://dallagliofoundation.com/
#O2RecycleForRugby
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O2 is the commercial brand of Telefónica UK Limited and is a leading communications company with over 23 million customers – read more about O2 at www.o2.co.uk/news. O2 runs 2G and 3G networks and was the first to trial 4G/LTE, reaching speeds of over 100Mpbs, as well as owning half of Tesco Mobile. It also operates O2 Wifi, O2 Health, O2 Unify, O2 Media and has recently launched the O2 Wallet. O2 employs over 11,000 people in the UK, has 450 retail stores and sponsors The O2, O2 Academy venues and the England rugby team. Telefónica UK Limited is part of Telefónica Europe plc which uses O2 as its commercial brand in the UK, Ireland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic and is a business division of Telefónica SA.
About the Dallaglio Foundation
After a successful testimonial year, Lawrence Dallaglio set himself the challenge of raising a million pounds for charity. With the help and support of colleagues, friends and family, he raised over £1million, which he gave to several causes.
Realising the difference he could make, the former England Rugby Captain and all-round legend set up the Dallaglio Foundation in 2009. Nearly five years on, the Foundation has raised over £7million and has the core objective of supporting young people – from all backgrounds – through the power of sport.
Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change is a partnership with Cricket for Change, where we work with young people who have been excluded from mainstream education and who are, or are at risk of becoming, young offenders. The project uses rugby to help them make better life choices and to increase their sense of worth and employability.
Registered charity number: 1130353
For more information on the Dallaglio Foundation please contact:
Paula Robertson
t: 07714170753
e: caroline@dallagliofoundation.com
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