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0500 STOP NOW and 0500 CLEAN UP adopted by public sector to boost community campaigns
NEXT generation numbers from Phonenames help local authorities stop flytipping and smoking. Ashton, Leigh & Wigan Primary Care Trust and King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council are set to dramatically improve customer service and response levels by putting innovative telephone number services at the heart of major campaigns against smoking and flytipping. The freephone numbers - 0500 STOPNOW and 0500 CLEANUP - are being used in radio and print advertising to encourage local communities to call up and get involved.
Phonenames Ltd advises organisations in the public and private sector on how to make the most of these truly memorable numbers. Used widely in North America and a number of other countries around the world, dialling words is increasing in popularity here in the UK, with over 800 organisations having a 'phone name' number which is virtually impossible to forget and simple to use. Users spell the name of the product or service they want using the letters on their telephone keypad.
Ashton, Leigh & Wigan Primary Care Trust has launched a campaign around 0500 STOP NOW to promote its smoking helpline. This is a freephone service covering Wigan in the North West. The trust's Glen Berry says:-
"I couldn't think of a better way to make our smoking support service so accessible to so many. It's a brilliant concept. Phonenames has made the transition to the new number totally seamless and have been incredibly supportive. Even if we see just a 5% rise in the number of calls coming in it'll have been a success." The number is predicted to see a significant increase in calls in the build up to No Smoking Day on
9 March.
Early 2002, King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council launched an extensive clean-up campaign. The search was on for finding new and innovative ways of tackling litter and flytipping. Education and publicity campaigns were launched to encourage local communities and other organisations to take action in their own neighbourhood. A 24-hour freephone voice mail service was introduced with the number being 0500 CLEANUP to encourage people to 'do their bit'. This number is advertised via signage on cleansing vehicles, credit card size information cards, street scene posters and community groups.
"Our statistics show that the 0500 CLEANUP number is the most popular way of communicating litter and fly-tipping problems compared to other methods (i.e. via a dedicated email address, visiting/calling environmental services and through the internal phone system). In 2004 there were 2629 reports of litter/flytipping problems, nearly half these were made through the 0500 freephone number from Phonenames," says Nathan Johnson, Public and Open Space manager.
"We are delighted that our services are being used within the public sector and creating such a positive impact on the local community. They bring multiple benefits to campaigns of this nature and it's easy to build an entire brand and service package around the number,"
Mark Jackson of Phonenames explains.
Johnny Depp
THROUGHOUT April the National Film Theatre is pleased to present a season of Johnny Depp films, one of Hollywood's most unique and versatile actors. Johnny Depp's filmography includes an eclectic mixture of both mega-grossing Hollywood fare and quirky indie films. He channels his charisma into highly stylised performances, exploiting or camouflaging his beauty as the part requires, from the effervescent transvestite character he played in Before Night Falls (2000), to the rugged undercover FBI agent in Donnie Brasco (1997).
Depp made the breakthrough transition from television to film in1990 with the title role in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands (1990); here Depp perfectly captured the sweet soul and awkward elegance of the shy and pale Edward.
Further quality roles soon followed; he may have missed out on the adulation (and the Oscar nod) bestowed upon Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), but Lasse Hallström's drama hinges on Depp's understated portrayal of Gilbert.
Other notable work screening in the season includes Jim Jarmusch's lyrical Dead Man (1996), in which Depp is beautifully cast as William Blake, a naïve accountant who travels west; the film is now regarded as one of the best American movies of the 90s. In 2000 he arguably gave a career-high performance in Terry Gilliam's meticulous adaptation of the late Hunter S Thompson's hallucinogenic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998); originally dismissed on its release, the film has since gained a cult following and is ripe for reappraisal.
Most recently Johnny Depp has worked on more commercial projects, but continues to give consummate performances.
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The mega-grossing Pirates of the Caribbean (2003), in which he plays a swashbuckling rogue, earned him his first Oscar nomination. With this franchise under his belt it would appear there's no one on the Hollywood radar to match his combination of flair, integrity and star power. His most recent performance as JM Barrie in Finding Neverland (2004) has generated widespread acclaim, proving that as an actor Depp is still riding high.
BETH KICK STARTS WOMEN'S 10K
COMMONWEALTH Gold medallist Beth Tweddle is helping to kick-start one of Europe's largest women-only runs. The 19th Liverpool Women's 10K race around South Liverpool - which starts and ends at Sefton Park on Sunday 15 May - is one of the few where novice runners and top class athletes compete together. And this Friday 11 March, City of Liverpool gymnast Beth will launch this year's race by helping runners get into training.
Councillor Warren Bradley, executive member for leisure and culture, said:- "The Women's 10k is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar in Liverpool. It brings women of all ages and abilities together, many of them running to raise money for good causes."
For the fourth consecutive year 'Worst Kept Secret', a project that aims to reduce domestic violence on Merseyside, is sponsoring the event. The project does not receive any money from the entrance fee, and depends on women being sponsored to run on behalf of the project to raise money. Any money raised funds the free, confidential help line - 0800 028 3398.
Collette Rice, Project Co-ordinator for Worst Kept Secret, said:- "Worst Kept Secret is pleased to again sponsor the Women's 10k event. Seeing so many women from all walks of life running together for charity is a truly amazing experience. We would ask runners to support our project and run on behalf of Worst Kept Secret, and enable us to sustain this vital
service".
Last year saw more than 3,000 runners converging on Liverpool from throughout Great Britain and Europe, raising tens of thousands of pounds for local charities.
This year's Worst Kept Secret Liverpool 10K will again incorporate the Merseyside County Women's 10K Road Race Championship, and thousands of spectators are expected to line the route to cheer the participants on.
Entry forms are available by telephoning 0151 233 2008, or from sports and leisure centres and swimming pools throughout Liverpool.
LETTERS TO EDITOR:-
"Comic Relief:- Recycling Appeal 05"
DEAR editor "As a representative of leading recycling company Eurosource, I was delighted to be part of the recent Red Nose Day Recycling Appeal launch. Eurosource has pledged recycle old mobile phones and empty inkjet printer cartridges to raise funds for Comic Relief - for everything recycled, we'll give money to this excellent charity.
I'd like to sincerely thank the readers who have already generously donated to the appeal - although it was only launched last week, there has been a great response. This innovative appeal doesn't ask anyone to part with their cash. They can simply donate something that would probably have ended up in the bin!
Unlike many fundraisers, it's not just the charity which gains - the benefits are far wider. Our environment is being damaged more and more by pollution, and mobiles and cartridges contribute to this when they are binned because they end up in landfill sites. Recycling them allows them to be refurbished or refilled, and most importantly reused - many even end up in developing countries where landline infrastructure is scarce.
So readers, search your cupboards for your old mobiles, and please stop binning your inkjet cartridges! Instead, post them to Red Nose Day Recycling Appeal, FREEPOST NAT 1990, Falkirk, FK2 9BR.
Address labels can be downloaded at:- www.recyclingappeal.com/rednoseday
where you can also find out exactly how much will go to Comic Relief for your old mobiles and inkjet cartridges - please note that we can't recycle Epson cartridges.
If you work in an office and you've got large toner cartridges to donate, please DO NOT send them to the address above. Once you have 10 or more, give us a call on 08712 50 50 50 and we'll send a courier to collect them FREE.
Please post anything you wish to donate by April 15 so we can get the proceeds to Comic Relief on time - and thanks again to readers who have already shown their support."
Rob Morton, PR Executive, Eurosource
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