Pennies, the UK’s leading micro-donation charity, has successfully launched its innovative solution on Castles Technology hardware, a leader in Android payment acceptance. This collaboration enables customers to easily add a small donation to their purchases in-store, seamlessly combining convenience with charitable giving.
Pennies Autumn Celebration 2023
Pennies held its annual Autumn Celebration Event this year on Tuesday 7th November 2023. Hosted for the fourth year by BBC news presenter Sally Bundock, and supported by FreedomPay, the event was attended by partners from across the micro-donation movement and was also available to join virtually.
This year’s event included insights from many leading retail and hospitality decision makers, who shared their experiences in incorporating generosity into their businesses and achieving success with Pennies.
Pennies 4th Annual Awards
One of the highlights of the evening was the 4th Annual Pennies Awards. Pennies works with innovative, passionate and socially-driven brands who each help unlock and amplify the micro-donation movement; broadening the opportunities for consumers to donate a few pennies when they shop and socialise, for causes and communities around the UK and internationally.

The Pennies Awards are a chance to highlight those partners and individuals who have gone above and beyond to make micro-donations matter. The winners were selected by an independent panel of industry leaders in retail, hospitality, payments, and technology. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists:
Social Impact Award – Technology Partner
Finalists:
- Worldpay
- Lightning E-Com
- Global Payments
- Wirebox
Winner: Worldpay
Social Impact Award – Merchant Partner
Finalists:
- The Entertainer
- Outdoor & Cycle Concepts
- Fanatics
Winner: The Entertainer
Social Impact Award – New Partner
Finalists:
- Well Pharmacy
- Booths
- GENE
- Central Co-op
- Vision Express
Winner: Well Pharmacy
Unsung Hero Award
Winner: Karen McHendry
Winner: Jackie Laing
Winner: Steph Kershaw
Outstanding Achievement Award
Winner: Poundland




(collected by Catrin Hale and Moira Thomas)


4th Annual Awards Judging Panel
We extend our gratitude to our 2023 panel of judges who had the task of selecting this year’s award recipients.
This year’s judges were:
- Roger Alexander (Chair), Non-Executive Director, Portfolio
- Angela Luger, Non-Executive Director and Chair, Portfolio
- Andy Wood OBE DL, Chief Executive Officer, Adnams plc
- Matt Atkinson, Non-Executive Director, Portfolio
- Paula MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, PizzaExpress
- Liz Williams, Former Chief International Operating Officer, Papa John’s International
- Clair Preston-Beer, Managing Director – Local Pubs, Greene King
- Michael Green, VP – Head of Northern Europe, Databricks
- David Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Dobbies Garden Centres

Start Your Pennies Journey
Contact us today and become part of the Pennies family, where every micro-donation adds up to make a positive difference for charities across the UK and beyond. Let’s work together to make every penny count.
Read more from Pennies.
Pennies Partners with Castles Technology to Launch Micro-Donations on Android Payment Terminals
Pennies, the UK’s leading micro-donation charity, has successfully launched its innovative solution on Castles Technology hardware, a leader in Android payment acceptance. This collaboration enables customers to easily add a small donation to their purchases in-store, seamlessly combining convenience with charitable giving.
Simon Millard joins Pennies as Chief Partnerships Officer
UK charity Pennies, the trusted leader in micro-donations, is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Millard as its new Chief Partnerships Officer.
Pennies’ Micro-Donation Day 2025 Raises £42,500 in Just 24 Hours
On Monday 25th August, Pennies, the trusted leader in micro-donations, celebrated another hugely successful Micro-Donation Day, raising £42,500 through 144,000 donations in just 24 hours, all for vital causes.
So proud of you Steph x