Mobile phone recycling campaign goes from strength to strength

With 381 phones recycled during the year, the campaign, in partnership with Punchline-Gloucester.com, has now raised over £4,600 for the Stroud-based charity since it was launched in 2023.

Rob Lister, MD of Lister Unified Communications, said: "We are really pleased with the ongoing generosity of Gloucestershire companies supporting our mobile recycling campaign and to have raised a further £1,759 in 2025 from phones that would have either sat gathering dust in people's drawers in perpetuity or into thrown into landfill. As such we have decided that, in association with Punchline, we will continue this scheme again for the whole of 2026."

Andy Jarrett, fundraising and events lead at The Nelson Trust, said: "We are so grateful to Lister Unified Communications for their continued commitment to our work. This simple act of recycling unwanted mobile phones has now raised over £4,600 for The Nelson Trust and is a powerful reminder that small, everyday actions can create real and lasting change. As Lister celebrates its 25th anniversary, we’re proud to continue this partnership and build on the impact we’re making together."

Mark Owen, editor of Punchline-Gloucester.com, said: "Punchline is proud of our partnership with Lister to help raise awareness and campaign for people and businesses to recycle their old mobile phones and benefit The Nelson Trust. We look forward to working with them again in 2026."

Rob Lister added: "It's poignant that during the 25th anniversary of our company, The Nelson Trust has been a valued customer for almost all of this time, and as a family we have been involved for over 25 years, originally with our late father Richard Lister as chairman and mother Ginny Lister still actively participating in the fundraising committee, particularly with catering for the many of the events. So it is great to carry on the relationship albeit in a much more humble way.

"It has been remarkable and inspiring to see how much The Nelson Trust has evolved and grown over the years, initially in Stroud then adding Gloucester under the early leadership of Steve Cooke, before really pushing on the size, range of services and geographical reach into Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol and South Wales as well under stewardship of the recently retired John Trolan and now the torch has been passed to Christina Line and her team of which we wish all the very best.

"There is no doubt they do amazing work which is summed up beautifully on their home page - ‘Believe change is possible’ being their mantra. They bring belief, hope and long-term recovery to lives affected by substance use and multiple disadvantages. If you don’t already know about The Nelson Trust, please spend a few minutes at www.nelsontrust.com."

Although a good number of Gloucestershire businesses are supporting our campaign, we're always on the lookout for more businesses and individuals to step forward and join the campaign.

Phone donors are advised to wipe all their private information off their devices before dropping them off, but Lister's experts can clear them, if necessary.
The old phones either get refurbished and upcycled or broken down as their parts contain tiny parts of precious metals.

If you would like to support the campaign, for example by putting a box to collect mobile phones in your workplace, please email andy.jarrett@nelsontrust.com or mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk who will be happy to come and collect them.