New Plastic Fiver Launched For Charity

A schoolgirl from Dundee won a competition to design a Bank of Scotland £5 note, which aims to raise money for Children in Need.

A new plastic banknote has been unveiled by the Bank of Scotland today.

The polymer fiver has been designed by a Dundee 13 year old as part of a Children in Need competition.

Kayla Robson incorporated Pudsey bear into her design.

The note will be a one off limited edition, with circulation limited to just 50 notes to make it popular among collectors, and hopefully raise as much money for BBC Children in Need as possible.

The serial numbers on the note will also be unique with the first 40 notes using the serial code PUDSEY01 – PUDSEY40. The remaining 10 banknotes will be available for personalised serial numbers such as initials and date of birth. Given the rarity of the notes it is likely they will be sold for hundreds of pounds more than their face value.

Most of the notes will be auctioned in December.

Annette Barnes, Bank of Scotland managing director told Kingdom FM:

“This new five pound note is brighter and bolder than most other banknotes in circulation and really brings to life what BBC Children in Need means to so many people. Kayla did a fantastic job with her design and I am delighted to see how we have been able to incorporate it into our first polymer banknote. It is the first time a child’s design has been used to create any UK banknote and we hope to raise lots of money for BBC Children in Need.” 

The designer of the note Kayla Robson said:

“I am very excited to see my design on the new £5 note. Art has always been one of my favourite subjects but I never expected one of my drawings to end up on a banknote.”

Earlier this year the bank announced that its next £5 and £10 banknotes will be printed on polymer. The design of the main replacement polymer £5 note will be unveiled early 2016 with the note itself issuing in the second half of the year. It will be followed around a year later by the polymer £10 note.