Office Survey Shows People Love To Swap

Nov. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- Three quarters of office staff would swap something in their lives if they could, according to a light-hearted survey ahead of the UK’s first-ever swapathon in aid of disabled people’s rights.

Around half (52%) say they would like to swap their bank balance, one in five (21%) their job, 15% their home, and even a small number (4%) their partner.

ADD International, the UK-based charity that works with disabled people in Africa and Asia, commissioned the poll to test the appetite for Stamp and Swap Day on Friday 3 December 2010.

The day will see people pay a small donation to swap items and experiences such as books, singing lessons, lunch swaps and even job roles, having fun in the run-up to Christmas and supporting disability rights in the UK and abroad.

The survey shows that David Beckham and Cheryl Cole are the most famous figures with whom office staff would swap their lives for a day. The main reasons for life swapping choices are accomplishments (42%), intelligence (30%) and money (25%).

Stamp and Swap has the support of celebrities including Kenyan-born British paralympian Anne Wafula Strike and former BBC TV Swap Shop presenter Keith Chegwin.  To watch a video of Keith introducing the event visit www.stampandswap.org

Anne, who swapped a copy of her autobiography ‘In my dreams I dance’ for a jacket Keith wore on Swap Shop, said: “Everyone should join this campaign and support the rights of disabled people all over the world. I understand from personal experience how important it is to get everyone talking about and supporting issues about disability.”

ADD International is working on the campaign with UK disability charity partners, notably RADAR and the National Centre for Independent Living. They are calling for volunteers to organise SwapIt events at their workplaces using a pack downloadable at www.stampandswap.org.

Stamp and Swap Day - 3 December - is the United Nations designated International Day of Disabled People.

For more information, contact ADD International on 01373 473064, visit www.stampandswap.org or follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

Notes to editors

ADD International (previously known as Action on Disability and Development) is a UK-based charity that works with the disability movements in Africa and Asia from a human rights perspective. ADD supports disabled people to come together to make decisions about their own lives and campaign for their rights. These include basic rights that most people take for granted such as family life, means of earning a living, education, basic healthcare and respect from other members of the community. For more information, visit www.add.org.uk.  

The online survey of 3,000 people was carried out by OnePoll for Stamp and Swap.

Media enquiries to Scott Sinclair, Footprint Communications, on 01962 738718 or scott@footprint-comms.co.uk