The scheme, which JustGiving will join in May and set to be the broadest retail rewards scheme in the UK, allows customers to donate additional money to charitable causes using their Barclaycard Freedom ‘Reward Money’.
The innovative loyalty scheme will be available to over eight million Barclaycard cardholders who will earn rewards in a broad range of high street and online retail outlets when the scheme goes live in March.
Charities will benefit in two ways: not only will Barclaycard customers be able to donate their Reward Money through JustGiving, but Barclaycard will match those donations, up to the value of £50,000 during 2010.
Anne-Marie Huby, JustGiving’s Managing Director said: “JustGiving is constantly looking for new ways to help charities raise more money. Barclaycard Freedom will both grow our member charities’ income and delight their supporters – a fantastic win for the charity sector in a tough economic climate.”
Sarah Newman, Managing Director of Barclaycard Freedom, added: “Barclaycard Freedom incorporates all of the best elements of a rewards scheme, with the rewards, quite simply, in pounds and pence. We are delighted that JustGiving has joined as a charity partner in this scheme.”
The partnership was announced by JustGiving’s CEO Zarine Kharas at the first JustGiving awards evening, held to celebrate the most inspirational appeals held on JustGiving in 2009.
Major Phil Packer who, despite the loss of the use of his legs whilst fighting in Iraq, famously walked the London Marathon over 14 days raising over £1 million in the process, was the keynote speaker. The awards celebrated the incredible achievements and irresistible energy of people who each year raise money for the causes they are passionate about. Sarah Hope, nominee for Incredible Achievement Award and a fundraiser for The Limbless Association commented on the awards, “So many people have tragic stories to tell and when tragedy happens you have to swim or you sink. The strength of feeling in the room created a wonderful atmosphere of the strength of human kindness and how people can overcome adversity.”
Fundraisers were joined on the night by many of the charities they so tirelessly campaigned for. “It was a privilege to be present at the first ever JustGiving awards, listening to the amazing stories from the ordinary people who had put such time, effort and drive into raising money for the causes they care about,” said one of the charity representatives, Craig Fordham, Challenge Events Manager at Macmillan. He added, “It really reminds me why we do what we do and makes me proud of the sector. I’d like to thank JustGiving for making this happen – firstly for bringing all these heart-warming stories together, and secondly, for enabling these special individuals to raise huge amounts of money through their website.”
