Family Fund turns to PrePay Technologies for grant card solution

26 July 2006

Family Fund, the York-based UK charity, which supports families with severely disabled children, has launched a prepaid grant card, as an innovative way of delivering its help to more than 50,000 families each year

The prepaid grant card is supported by a solution designed and managed by PrePay Technologies Ltd, the market leader in the field of host-based stored value card solutions.

The grant card will allow Family Fund to quickly and securely distribute funds to qualifying families. On receipt of the card, the funds will immediately be available to families to spend at Family Funds’ chosen retailers.

The new Family Fund card will eventually replace the cash grants that are currently made. Individual cards will remain with families as long as they are members of the Family Fund and future grant values will simply be added to the card, thereby simplifying the process of providing additional grants.

Marion Lowe, Chief Executive of the Fund said, “We are continually looking for innovative ways to deliver our services to families and now new technology is playing its part in that service delivery following the launch of the Family Fund Card."

Meanwhile, Derek Walpole the Fund’s deputy Chief Executive who led the project team said, "The prepaid card solution designed and delivered by PrePay Technologies Ltd is a major step forward for the Family Fund and heralds a move away from us physically providing cash to families. Our association with a number of UK retailers enables families to obtain quality products, and the Fund to obtain discounts and rebates that are ploughed back into the grant-making process with the result that more grants go to more families who need them.

The service and support we have received from PrePay Technologies in the launch of this innovative service has been pivotal to its success. The card is helping to make it easier for us to meet the needs of our families and we are pro-actively looking at ways in which we can build on the initial success we have experienced and hope to stimulate interest in the Family Fund card from other UK retailers.”

Speaking of the launch, Philippe Dufour, CEO of PrePay Technologies Ltd. said, “We are delighted that the successful launch of the Grant Card has opened up a wealth of opportunities for Family Fund. Being at the forefront of the prepaid solutions industry, we will continue to work with Family Fund to maximise the benefits of the programme not just for them but also for the benefit of the social care sector including Charities, Relief & Support Organisations & Care and Development agencies.”

Family Fund joins a growing number of major clients, including COMET, Debenhams, Laura Ashley, Western Union and the Arcadia Group who have benefited from the portfolio of prepaid solutions designed and delivered by PrePay Technologies Ltd.

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