The Bromsgrove-based independent DIY retailer has launched a summer-long fundraising campaign to raise money for its 2018 nominated charity and is asking locals come in store and donate any leftover foreign currency from holidays abroad this summer.

The award-winning retailer said all main currencies will be accepted, including Euros and Dollars, as well as discontinued pre-Euro currencies that might be tucked away at the back of a drawer – from French francs, Italian lira, and German deutschmarks, to Spanish pesetas and Greek drachma.

Broad Street DIY will use a specialist foreign exchange firm to convert the currency to cash and then donate the money to Dodford Children’s Holiday Farm, in Bromsgrove. The Farm offers residential stays for children from inner city schools, nurseries and special schools, providing an opportunity for them to enjoy life outdoors on the farm.

The retailer hopes the campaign will prove a huge success – particularly since a report in the Daily Mirror in 2017 found that each British household has, on average, £65-worth of unused travel money lying around.

The shop will be promoting the fundraising initiative in store, as well as via local press PR and a social media campaign. The ‘reminder’ social media posts, which will run periodically throughout July, August and September, will see members of staff transposed to different foreign holiday destinations, with an engaging strap line ‘Where will the team be travelling to next?’

Broad Street DIY director Lisa Childs said: “Nearly everyone comes home from holiday with some coins which they can’t exchange at the bank, or a few low denomination notes which just aren’t worth exchanging. This money can be used to help a worthy local charity, rather than being put into a drawer and forgotten about.”