Global Ardour Recycling, in partnership with the We Love Hitchin Facebook group, has launched a community competition giving residents the chance to vote for which local charity will receive a £1,000 donation.

Following feedback from members of We Love Hitchin and conversations with local residents, three charities have been shortlisted:

• St Mary's Preservation Trust – protecting and preserving Hitchin's historic parish church for future generations.
• North Herts & Stevenage Centre for Voluntary Service (NH&SCVS) – supporting and strengthening voluntary and community groups across the area.
• Feed Up Warm Up – providing food, friendship, and outreach to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Hertfordshire.

The vote will take place via a poll pinned to the We Love Hitchin group from 10th September until 1st October. The charity with the most votes at the close of the poll will receive the £1,000 donation.

To help raise awareness, Global Ardour Recycling will also be sharing weekly profiles of each charity on social media, highlighting their work and encouraging residents to get involved.

Graeme Slater, Operations Director at Global Ardour Recycling Hitchin, said:

"Hitchin has a strong community spirit and the staff regularly engage in fundraising activities on site. This competition is about giving local people the power to choose which cause matters most to them. All three shortlisted charities do incredible work, and we're proud to be supporting them in this way."

The winning charity will be invited to Global Ardour Recycling's Hitchin site for a presentation photo with a large cheque, which will be shared on social media and with local press.

Residents who wish to take part can simply join the We Love Hitchin Facebook group and cast their vote in the poll before the closing date of 1st October.

The We Love Hitchin Facebook Group can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/welovehitchin/