We're looking for people all around Gloucestershire to act as champions for our charity mobile phone recycling campaign.

Punchline-Gloucester.com has teamed up with Lister Unfiied Communications to encourage Gloucestershire businesses and residents to recycle their old phones, with proceeds going to The Nelson Trust.

The Stroud-based charity brings hope and long-term recovery to lives affected by addiction and multiple disadvantages.

The old phones either get refurbished and upcycled or broken down as their parts contain tiny parts of precious metals.

Mobile phone recycling bins have been placed in the county's six Growth Hubs - in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury and Mitcheldean.

A growing number of businesses have also come on board to support the campaign, including the Spirax Group, Cass Stephens, Forest Green Rovers and Enterprise Mobility.

Research by Giffgaff indicates that more than 100 million unused devices worth a collective £14.1 billion are gathering dust in houses. On average, each UK adult possesses at least two unused mobile devices at home, with another two devices having been discarded in the bin. Despite the potential value, many end up in landfill sites.

Punchline-Gloucester.com editor Mark Owen said: ""Our mission is to get as many businesses as possible in the county to join this campaign. There's momentum building as more and more people come on board but we're looking for more people to get involved. We're appealing to business people to encourage their staff to recycle their phones.

"We've collected over 2,500 mobile phones so far but we want more people to collect them because we've only just really scratched the surface. We need somebody to be a champion at work who can ask their colleagues or their families to collect mobile phones.

"My wife's auntie went to her parish church and collected 20 phones. If everybody did that, we could collect thousands of phones, so if you have an old mobile phone, just take it to the growth hub and help make a difference. Or even better, put a box in your workplace and put everyone's old phones in there and get in touch with The Nelson Trust to arrange collection."

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.

John Trolan, CEO of The Nelson Trust, said: "We are delighted that Lister Unified Communications and Punchline have already seen huge success with their campaign. These phones are especially crucial in situations involving abusive relationships, where partners may use mobile phone restrictions or monitoring as a form of coercive control, placing many women at risk.

"With many services and support systems now accessible online, the ability to make a private and secure phone call for help, advice, or during a crisis can be life-saving."

The initiative is being supported by Gloucester-based BiGDUG, which has supplied the recycling bins, and Blue Sky Signs which created all the signage for the bins.

To volunteer as a mobile phone recycling champion or to have your box of used mobile phones picked up, email andy.jarrett@nelsontrust.com or mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk