Support volunteering and sign up to Citizen Coin
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Wakefield Council is encouraging volunteers, local businesses and volunteering organisations to sign up to the Citizen Coin app.
Following a successful pilot in the city centre, Citizen Coin will now be rolling out into other areas of the district, starting with Featherstone in mid-September.
“The Citizen Coin app is a brilliant way to promote your business whilst encouraging people to volunteer and supporting those who already do wonderful work in our local communities.
“I’d encourage volunteers, local businesses and volunteering organisations to take a look and sign up today.”
Cllr Maureen Cummings
Cabinet Member for Communities and Poverty
Citizen Coin is a scheme that recognises and rewards volunteering. It’s free to use for everyone and in the future will be a one-stop shop for all volunteering opportunities across the district.
Residents can sign up to volunteering activities through the app and receive Citizen Coins once they have completed them. These Coins can be spent on offers and discounts that businesses advertise on the app. There is also the opportunity to gift Coins to other users.
Sarah, a Helpline Volunteer at FAB (Families and Babies), has already cashed in the rewards, benefitting from free swimming sessions.
Businesses who have already joined the scheme and are offering discounts include cafés, barbers, Museums and Castles, coworking spaces, active equipment shops, leisure centres, art therapy, and sandwich shops, as well as many more.
As of 2 August, there were 43 businesses advertising offers and discounts, 45 volunteering organisations with opportunities advertised, 343 volunteers registered, and 1,161 Coins in circulation.
Abrar Nawaz, Owner of Silver Spice, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to support and reward local volunteers as well as promote our business to more people.
“We’re really delighted that people have already come into our restaurant and spent their Coins.”
Teams will be visiting businesses in Featherstone in person, but anyone who volunteers, owns a business or runs a volunteering group in other areas of the district, can still sign up to Citizen Coin by visiting the website at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/our-people-and-communities/volunteering-for-wakefield/ or downloading the app from their chosen app store.
For more information, please contact the team by emailing citizencoin@wakefield.gov.uk.