Pool table hire is allowing Royal Mail employees in Northampton to raise money for charity – simply thanks to the coins they put in the slot in order to play.
A typical paid-for pub pool table was put in place at the South Midlands Mail Centre in Swan Valley back in April and has proved a big hit in its first six months.
During that time, more than £1,000 has been raised for charities including Guide Dogs for the Blind, Marie Curie, Cynthia Spencer Hospice, Poppy’s Place, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Cancer Research UK.
The decision to use pool table hire as a charitable venture was taken by the Communications Workers Union, and the employees at the flagship mail centre have been allowed to choose which charities half the money should go to.
Gareth Eales, CWU area representative at the South Midlands Mail Centre, said: “I am delighted so much money has been raised in such a short space of time for good causes.
“The pool table was put in to give our members something to do during their rest periods and the fact we can raise money for charities at the same time is fantastic.”