Book Swap At Shaftesbury Tesco Raises Funds For Local Good Causes

A former Shaftesbury Town Councillor is finding new ways to support the community through his role as Tesco’s community champion. Luke Kirton has launched a book exchange inside the supermarket to raise money for local causes.

‘We’ve got a bookshelf just beyond the tills near the community notice board,’ said Luke. ‘The idea is that you bring books in and take books away that you want to read. We just ask for a small donation for the charity we’re supporting at the time. Around fifty pence for a paperback and a pound for a hardback is what we suggest.’

At the moment, the funds go to Shaftesbury Primary School’s PTFA to help pay for this year’s Year Six trip to London. Luke explained that the chosen charity will change roughly every three months. ‘It’s a good way of recycling your books once you’ve read them,’ he said. ‘They’re often just sitting there gathering dust, so this gives them a new life and helps the community at the same time.’

For anyone bringing a large number of books, Luke asks that they’re dropped off at customer services. ‘We don’t want piles of books blocking the aisle,’ he said. ‘I’ll manage what goes in and out and pass any surplus on to local groups.’

Although Luke admits the idea came from other Tesco stores, he saw its potential for Shaftesbury. ‘I thought it would be great to get it started here with the support of our store manager,’ he said.

His community champion role also connects him to Tesco’s Blue Token scheme. ‘It’s run by Groundworks, but I can suggest local groups to go forward,’ Luke explained. ‘If someone comes to me with a project that fits the criteria, I’ll encourage them to apply.’

Luke says he was inspired to start with Shaftesbury Primary after chatting with staff who were seeking help for fundraising. ‘They were a good starting point because of their strong network of parents,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to get the word out when you’re beginning something new, so they’ve helped get the ball rolling.’

Luke Kirton’s book exchange at Shaftesbury Tesco is now raising funds for Shaftesbury Primary School’s Year Six trip to London, with more local charities set to benefit in the months ahead.

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