From:-
TORCH TRUST, Torch House, Torch Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: +44 (0)1858 438260, Fax: +44 (0)1858 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
The Torch Trust for the Blind, registered charity number 1095904.
For many years supporters of Torch Trust have collected postage stamps which have been sorted and sold on by a faithful volunteer who has now retired. This has raised many hundreds of pounds for Torch funds.
Torch has now joined a scheme called Charity Stamps Direct, run by Robert Murray Stamp Shop in Edinburgh. Under this arrangement the stamp shop will send funds to Torch based on the weight of stamps they receive. If you are interested in collecting or donating stamps for Torch then please read on.
Most of the stamps collected for Torch are cut from envelopes. Some supporters have been especially helpful and have soaked the stamps from envelopes and have sorted them into separate categories. There is no longer any need to do this as there is no financial advantage to Torch. We are also no longer accepting postcards. Here's what you should do:
Stamps should be on single thickness backing paper (i.e. not front and back of the envelope) and the backing paper should be trimmed to about 4mm to 8mm.
Nothing else should be mixed with the stamps (e.g. coins, postcards).
You do not need to sort stamps into different categories.
Stamps should preferably be in clear plastic bags inside a sufficiently strong envelope or box. Do not enclose any letters or other items.
Please post to: Charity Stamps Direct (Torch Trust for the Blind), 5 Inverleith Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 5PU. It is very important that Torch's name is clearly written as part of the address as otherwise we will not benefit from your hard work. You can also hand stamps in at the shop, marked as above.
It is not financially viable to send small amounts of stamps, so we suggest you save them up until you have a larger quantity. Our suggestion is that you do one of the following:
Weight – just under 1kg – send as a second class 'Packet' (Cost £2.84)
Weight – just under 2kg – send as a 'Standard Parcel' (Cost £4.41)
Weight – just under 4kg - send as a 'Standard Parcel' (Cost £7.06)
Weight – just under 6kg - send as a 'Standard Parcel' (Cost £9.58)
Important - Please remember that you cannot use 'Articles for the Blind' freepost to send stamps through the postal system and that postal rates increase each April.
If you have a collection of stamps or any unusual or one-off items that may be more valuable, then we will be pleased to still receive these at Torch House. We will continue to find outlets to sell these on.
For more information please contact Andrew Nicholson on 01858 438260
Torch Trust, Torch House, Market Harborough LE16 9HL
Telephone: 01858 438360 Email: andrewn@torchtrust.org