Tavern ‘swear box’ helps raise £1,250 for hospice

A town centre pub’s ‘swear box’ has contributed to a £1,250 donation to Lindsey Lodge Hospice.

Regulars at The Tavern on Scunthorpe High Street have raised the cash over the past 12 months after Landlady Sarah Randall got fed up of hearing a certain four letter word in the pub.

Offenders had to pay a £1 fine into the box and some ended up to £10 out of pocket in one day after other drinkers reported their misdemeanours.

Sarah said: “I’ve always been a keen fundraiser, so wanted to get our customers on board with supporting a local charity.

“My partner Julian knows first-hand about the fantastic care Lindsey Lodge Hospice provides as it cared for his wife before she sadly passed away.

“We put it to a vote and our customers voted overwhelmingly for Lindsey Lodge, as it really does touch the lives of so many local people.”

The pub’s fundraising was given a £500 boost when transgender customer Rachel won a competition to write a love letter about why she loved her local pub run by Craft Union Pubs. She wrote about how accepted she felt by everyone at The Tavern and when she was selected for the top prize, she generously donated it to the Hospice.

Lindsey Lodge Fundraiser Anne Millett said: “This is a huge amount of money raised and on behalf of everyone at the Hospice; I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at the Tavern!”

She added: “As an independent charity our running costs are over £3.5 million every year, so we rely on the kindness and generosity of our local community to continue to provide the best possible palliative care and support for our patients and their families.”

Landlady Sarah Randall added: “This is a great local pub, with brilliant customers and we’re very proud to have raised so much money – and the language in the pub is much cleaner too!

“Lindsey Lodge is a great cause and we’re pleased to be continuing to support everything they do.”