UDonateacar was set up by Silverlake Automotive Recycling in 2010 to give its customers the option to make a charitable donation while scrapping their car responsibly.

Snows became a scheme partner in 2012 and since then its customers have provided scores of cars to Silverlake to recycle, helping charities across Hampshire and the UK in the process.

In 2021, Silverlake’s 75th anniversary, the company relaunched UDonateacar in the wake of the Covid pandemic, teaming up with national charity Global’s Make Some Noise with a focus on raising £20,000 to support small, often lesser-known charities working in its communities.

In the Southampton area, where both Silverlake and Snows are based, charities supported by Global’s Make Some Noise include Yellow Door which was set up to prevent and respond to domestic and sexual abuse; Abby’s Heroes which supports children, teenagers, young adults, and their families when diagnosed with cancer and The Rosemary Foundation, which provides Hospice at Home care for patients suffering from cancer or other life-threatening conditions.

Allen Prebble, Managing Director of Silverlake said: “Funding for charities has never been more important and UDonateacar provides us and our industry partners and their customers with an easy way to recycle cars and support some small but very hard-working charities.

“We have people donating a fiver to the scheme when they scrap their car, and some people donating the entirety of the money they receive. But most people donate in some way and do so gladly. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

He continued: “Silverlake and Snows are cut from the same cloth – family businesses which are committed to the communities they serve, and we complement each other very well. I know our continuing relationship through UDonateacar gives the Snow family and my family a great deal of satisfaction, as well as raising some great funds for some worthy charities.”

Alex Domone, Chief Operating Officer at Snows said: “I’d like to echo what Allen says about Snows and Silverlake. The reason why we continue to thrive in our communities is because we support and value them. The UDonateacar initiative is an excellent example of that and we look forward to supporting it for many more years to come.”

Silverlake Automative Recycling was set up by Allen’s father, Norman Prebble, in 1946 and occupies a 10-acre site in Shedfield, where vehicles, depending on their condition, are either depolluted, destroyed and recycled, dismantled for recycled parts, or prepared for re-sale at auction. Silverlake reduces carbon emissions by recycling 95% of every scrap car it handles.

Snows started life in 1962 as an office supplies business, with the late Geoff Snow investing in St James’ Toyota Centre in 1979 and introducing the business to the motor trade.

Sixty years later, the motor group represents 19 brands across 48 dealerships, has three Approved Service Centres, 12 multi-franchise Used Car Centres and a stand-alone Accident Repair Centre across the South, employing a total of 937 staff.

Snows is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2022 and has launched the year-long Mission 60 initiative, which aims to raise £60k for local charities.