UNWANTED foreign currency and out of circulation coins can be turned into much needed cash for charity in the Chippenham branch of Sainsbury's thanks to a new and innovative fundraising scheme.

Sainsbury's has teamed up with Cash4Coins to raise money for the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland and has become the first major supermarket to launch the service and allow customers to donate unwanted cash to charity.

Cash4Coins then collects and processes all the coins and notes before changing them back into sterling and donating the profits to charity.

Store manager Val Atwill said: “We know lots of our customers come back from a holiday or trip abroad with leftover foreign currency which ends up hidden at the back of a drawer or stashed in a piggy bank. By working in partnership with Cash4Coins we hope to make it easier for customers to pass on their leftover currency whilst also generating vital funds for The Royal British Legion and its sister charity, Poppyscotland.”

The scheme has been et up through Sainsbury's Bank, which operates Travel Money Bureau's in a number of stores across the country.

Ben France, interim head of corporate partnerships at The Royal British Legion, added: “We have a long history working with Sainsbury’s and we’re thrilled that it has chosen us as the beneficiary of its Cash4Coins donation scheme. Funds generated through the service will help ensure we can continue to provide year-round care and support to the UK’s service men and women, veterans and their families.”

For more information visit www.cash4coins.co.uk/sainsburys/