Stamp & Deliver 2007

During the Twenty-Fifth year of the Derby and District Scouts Scheme in the lead up to Christmas 2006, 35 Scout Groups situated in and around Derby were responsible for the sale of 216,996 special stamps as a result of which £32,550 was raised for charity.

In March 2007 the Mayor of Derby on behalf of the scheme presented a cheque for £3,300.00 to the Scheme's chosen charity 'The Derbyshire Childrens Holiday Centre' which provides holidays for disadvantaged children and their parents across the entire County. Participating Scout Groups retain a proportion of the money from the sale of each stamp sold and then receive payment for the delivery of the cards within their local area after the costs of running the Scheme have been met.

This is made possible through the continuing support for the scheme from the good people of Derby and its surrounding districts, who purchase the stamps in increasing numbers year on year. None of it would be possible of course without the unselfish support of many local shop owners and managers, publicans and other local businesses, churches and chapels, schools, staff at health centres and residential homes. Each year the proprietors of these outlets willingly allow us to set up sales points with yellow collection boxes, advertising posters and leaflets on their premises. They sell the stamps on our behalf and the posting boxes are emptied regularly by a participating Group volunteer. Two main sorting offices at Allestree and Borrowash are manned by volunteers and the cards are collected from there by the participating Groups for delivery to the homes within their area of the Scheme.

Printing of posters and stamps is costly. A part of this cost has been defrayed for a number of years through the generous sponsorship of the Scheme by the management of Acetate Products of Spondon. Once again for 2007 the same Spondon firm has supplied sponsorship of £750.00 albeit under its latest management Celanese Acetate. 'Celanese' of course is synonymous with Spondon for many in the Derby area who can recall the unmistakeable odour which drifted across Derby during World War 2.
This year also we are delighted by and grateful to the Freemasons, Mentor Lodge for a donation of £250.00.

However early you choose to write and post your greetings cards each year there is sure to be a Stamp and Deliver sales outlet somewhere in your locality. The Scheme has a web site at:

Alternatively ring the Scheme's Hotline 07930 760 655 open Monday 3rd to Friday 14th December.

All sales points carry a supply of leaflets on the reverse of which is a list of places and a map of the Delivery area. Cards addressed to places outside this area cannot be delivered by our volunteers. The difference between a Scheme stamp and the cost of a second class stamp to send a card through the Royal Mail has to come out of the money intended for our Charities.

Back in 1981 the Government of the day made it possible for a Charity to run a Christmas card postal service within their community. This year our chosen charities are the Derby Mountain Rescue Team and Derby Kids Camp. The members of the Mountain Rescue Team need to create a new centre for their equipment. They justify their appeal for funds because they are on call at any time to assist with emergencies in and around the Derby area in just the same way that they may be called out for an incident in the Peaks of Derbyshire. The Team has strong links with the Scout Movement in Derbyshire and some members owe their present willingness to provide help from their Scouting experiences during their formative years.
Likewise Derby Kids Camp is an annual event run by volunteers who provide summer camps for disadvantaged Children within the Derby area.

Please use Stamp and Deliver to purchase your 15 pence stamps and let us deliver your Christmas greetings within our designated area. By so doing you will be supporting two local voluntary organisations which provide valuable free service to our community.

In 1907 Lord Baden Powell started a Youth Movement which 100 years later has gone from strength to strength as a worldwide movement. Then as now the ideals are the same - concern and respect for everyone regardless of colour, class or creed. To develop each person's potential to the full and to practice peace and goodwill to others. By purchasing your stamps from Stamp and Deliver not only will you be saving yourself a few pence but more importantly you will be supporting local volunteer workers who provide a useful service within our Community. Additionally, you will be helping Scouts to carry out 'their good deed for the day' - helping others.