A social media campaign is urging people to donate their first plastic £5 note to charity, after the new version entered circulation at the end of last week. 

The campaign was started on Twitter by John Thompson, fundraising consultant at Changing Business, on Friday evening. It is asking people to give their first new £5 note to a charity of their choice.
Supporters are using the search tags #firstfiver, #givefive and #fivergiver to share the campaign with their followers. 

Thompson said “it all took off over the weekend” after he started a poll on Twitter and that “it seems to have captured people’s imagination”. So far he thinks about £1,000 has been pledged but hopes that will rise as more charities and potentially retailers get involved this week. 

It has been backed by the Institute of Fundraising and NCVO. The Children’s Society, Blue Cross and Sue Ryder are among the first charities to be asking their supporters to get involved. 

The Bank of England released the polymer note on 13 September and in May 2017 the paper notes will cease to be legal tender.