M&S travel money customers can now donate to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

M&S travel money customers can now put their unwanted foreign currency to good use by donating it to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

New research from M&S Money reveals that on average each person in the UK has £40 in foreign currency that will never be changed back into sterling. This means that a grand total of £2.3 billion could be lying dormant in homes across the country.

Customers can make use of this forgotten foreign currency by using charity collection boxes at 38 out of 101 bureau de change at Marks & Spencer stores across the country. Foreign coins and notes can be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer as part of Marks & Spencer’s continued support for the charity.

Eddie Nott, Deputy Chief Executive of M&S Money, commented; “We are all guilty of forgetting the worth of the foreign currency that we bring home from our travels, in fact over a quarter of us bring back more than £50 and 80% of us don’t bother or forget to change it back. We hope these collection boxes will make it easy for our 3 million travel money customers to put their foreign currency to good use and help us raise a significant amount for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.“

The M&S Money research also revealed that 83% of holidaymakers bring foreign currency back from their travels, with a quarter (24%) returning with more than £50 worth. More than four in five (84%) who bring cash back don’t bother or just forget to change it back, and over a third (38%) leave it untouched in a drawer, wallet or handbag. A few give their spare currency away, with 4% donating it to charity and 6% giving to family or friends.

M&S Money customers also have the option of changing their currency back to sterling. There is no charge for this service at M&S bureaux de change.

For further information, visit marksandspencer.com/travelmoney.