Aspers Lays its Carpets Down

with Community Donation

When managers at Aspers at The Gate chose to invest in a new carpet for the popular venue, they were faced with a dilemma of what to do with the old one, all 45,000 sq ft of it, until Community Transport Newcastle East stepped forward as a willing recipient.

After collecting a truck load of high quality carpet from Aspers, the Byker-based charity has now fully carpeted its warehouse and will be offering the rest of the carpet to local people setting up home in Newcastle's east end.

"After four years, during which almost one and a half million people have passed through the doors, we felt the place needed a bit of freshening up, but it seemed a real shame to simply send the old carpet to landfill," said Richard Smith, General Manager of Aspers at The Gate. "Community Transport were ready and willing to pick up as much as they could carry and this donation will not only benefit the community, it's also good for the environment."

Community Transport is a national charity with two branches in the east and west of Newcastle. In addition to low-priced minibus hire for voluntary and community groups in the city, the charity also runs a furniture recycling service for people moving into new homes, through which the carpet will be distributed.

"We often get small donations from the community, such as house clearances, but rarely anything on this scale," said Henry Aitchison, Manager of Community Transport Newcastle East. "When we turned up in the lorry and saw the amount of carpet, everyone was amazed, but we've had enough to do our own warehouse with ample left over for donation to those in need in the community."

Aspers is a regular donor to worthy causes in the Newcastle area and recently gave £10,000 towards the cost of illuminating the ceremonial Chinese arch in Stowell Street, the heart of the city's Chinatown.

"It felt surreal walking into the warehouse and seeing our old carpet on the floor, but sometimes the most effective charitable gestures cost nothing," added Richard. "I hope that the charity's volunteers and the people they help can benefit from this carpet for many years to come."

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Aspers at The Gate

by Point Pleasant Communications

For further information please contact Rob Lawson

on (0191) 519 7219 (Mobile: 07940 501 993) or email rob@point-pleasant.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Aspers at The Gate is a 45,000ft2 leisure facility in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.
• There are currently two other Aspers in Northampton and Swansea, with more new openings in the pipeline.
• The venue includes bars, restaurant, beauty spa, live entertainment and state-of-the-art gaming facilities. 
• Aspers has attracted over 134,000 members in just over three and a half years from a catchment area covering Northumberland and County Durham, reaching across to Cumbria and down to York.
• In April 2008, Aspers became the first British casino to go 'membership free' which means that virtually all visitors can freely walk through the reception area without completing membership forms.
• In late 2007 Aspers became the first casino operator in the country to launch a loyalty club - Aspire - that allows customers to collect and redeem points throughout its operations (including gaming).  Customers are now able to gain points for every purchase made on the premises and can also earn bonus points on selected promotions. 
• At every Aspers location, the company has set up the Community Action for Responsible Gaming (CARG) programme. This initiative is unique to Aspers and is based on similar successful schemes in Australasia. CARG is a voluntary, not-for-profit group that seeks to constructively address problem gambling issues in society through a working partnership between local community-based interest groups.

• Aspers is membership free and open to all those aged 18 or over. Photo ID required if you look under 21 and to join our Aspire Loyalty Club. Please play responsibly. www.gambleaware.co.uk