CHARITIES in East Lancashire have been given a boost with people donating their ‘first new fiver’ to good causes.

The new five pound notes, which were released into circulation earlier this month, have been causing quite a stir with people eagerly awaiting their first one in their change.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Charities have been taking advantage and have been encouraging people to donate their first one to a worthy cause.

Among the those who have benefited are East Lancashire Hospice, Pendleside Hospice, Rossendale Hospice and Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.

They have latched on to this idea and are encouraging people to donate their first new fiver to help local people.

Julia O’Neill, day services manager at Pendleside Hospice set the ball rolling by donating her first new fiver and many others are following suit.

Kim Greaves, a fundraiser at East Lancashire Hospice, said: “We’ve had some pledges and people have been putting pictures on social media of their #firstfiver as the new £5 banknotes are released.

“We’ve also done a fun blog on our website with suggestions of what to do with your first fiver.

“Of course our suggestion is to make a difference to patients in our area with life-limiting illnesses.”

Even the four-legged inhabitants of Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield have got involved with Jess, one of their rescue dogs posing with a fiver.

Alison Whittaker-Stewart, from Rossendale Hospice, said: “If you donate your first fiver to Rossendale Hospice it could buy one of our a day therapy patients a three-course lunch.”

The new fivers, which feature Winston Churchill on the reverse, are the first ones in the UK to be printed on a polymer based material to enable them to last longer.

They are also much smaller in size than the previous notes, which, all makes them very distinguishable when handed one in your change.

The charities are also encouraging people who wish to keep hold of their fiver to make an equivalent donation on the charities websites.