The Leith Collective launches annual Christmas tree exchange with an extra personal touch this year
A shocking 14% of people said they would throw away their artificial Christmas tree rather than reuse it next year*. With the planet facing an environmental emergency and people facing a continuing cost of living crisis, one local Community Interest Company is determined to put an end to this mindless waste and send a message of hope to those in need in the process.
Sunday 1st December will see The Leith Collective launch its annual Christmas tree exchange across its four Scottish stores, and this year it’s adding an extra personal touch. Locals are being urged to search their homes for any unwanted Christmas trees and decorations that may be languishing in cupboards and attics. Instead of sending them to landfill, they can drop them off at The Leith Collective stores where they will be passed on to those in need.
The Leith Collective is also calling on Christmas shoppers to take time out of their present hunting to stop and think of others by writing messages of hope on decorations which will be hung on these pre-loved Christmas trees to lift spirits and spread joy this season.
Last year, The Leith Collective re-homed almost 500 Christmas trees and demand is expected to be just as high this year.
Speaking ahead of the Christmas tree exchange launch, The Leith Collective founder, Sara Thomson, said; “We want people to stop and think of others this Christmas. Passing on trees and Christmas decorations is not only good for the planet, but it’s also a lovely way of adding a little festive joy to the lives of those less fortunate.
!And by taking the time to write a thoughtful message to accompany each tree, we hope it will help people to connect with others. To those receiving these trees and personalised decorations, we hope it offers them comfort to know people are thinking of them this Christmas.”
Christmas trees and decorations will be available for anyone to collect at Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird, Ocean Terminal and Waverley Market stores, as well as Dundee’s Overgate store, during opening hours completely free of charge. No stigma, no judgement, no questions asked.
Christmas has come early for a group of elderly residents from Edinburgh after a group of big-hearted National Lottery winners donated a wealth of festive goodies to a local National Lottery-funded charity.
Six winners visited The Living Memory Association in Leith yesterday, hand delivering a Christmas tree and luxury gift hampers to be distributed among local people who rely heavily on the support the charity offers.
Armed with Santa hats and Christmas jumpers, the winners got to work putting up and decorating the tree, as well as putting finishing touches to the hampers which included everything from individual Christmas puddings to Fortnum & Mason tea bags.
As part of the festive surprise The National Lottery winners, who have a combined worth of more than £62 million, spent the morning with charity staff at its Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal.
Based in Edinburgh, The Living Memory Association was established in 1986 and uses the power of memory and reminiscence to bring people together, regardless of their background or age.
The charity has received over £1M in National Lottery funding since 2005 with much of this used to involve and empower older people throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians who have been badly affected by loneliness and isolation, particularly during the pandemic.
This includes those living with dementia and their carers. Using the evocative powers of sight, sound and smell, staff encourage visitors to recall past memories with many people spending hours browsing the museum’s displays and artefacts.
The charitable National Lottery winner group included Fred and Lesley Higgins, originally from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, who won £57,975,367 on EuroMillions in July 2018.
The couple, who have supported a number of deserving causes since their win, were also joined by fellow Dundonian Ray Storey who won £1,050,000 on EuroMillions in 2014.
Also visiting the charity yesterday was Libby Elliott from Fife, who won £2,159,664 on Lotto in 2012, alongside East Lothian couple Alan and Claire Gray who scooped £1,000,000 on EuroMillions in 2019.
Alan Gray, who visited the charity with wife Claire, said, “We had a really lovely time visiting the Wee Museum of Memory.
“The team at The Living Memory Association really do some amazing work and we feel proud to have played a small part in supporting its work with elderly and isolated people. We hope our donations mean local residents can still enjoy a special Christmas treat on us!”
Miles Tubb, Project Coordinator at The Living Memory Association, said, “Everyone has had a tough time over the past 18 months but for elderly and isolated people it’s been particularly difficult. We are passionate about tackling loneliness and a big part of this is getting people together and reliving memories of days gone by.
“We are so grateful to players of The National Lottery for their continued support and to our new friends who visited us. What they have donated is incredibly generous. Despite the restrictions and challenges these hampers will provide some much-needed festive cheer.
“We are lucky to have previously received funding support from The National Lottery, so we are delighted to be able to continue our great relationship.”
The Christmas season has always been a special time for National Lottery winners with many coming together during the festive season to support charities across Scotland. However, COVID-19 restrictions have meant that The National Lottery has had to think differently over the past couple of years.
With safety and wellbeing paramount, all winners and wider team members adhered to safe working practices, following current guidelines and with face masks and regular hand washing mandatory.
By playing any National Lottery game, players generate more than £30M each week for National Lottery-funded projects. This money helps support everything from the local charity making a difference where you live through to helping our nation’s athletes win Olympic and Paralympic gold medals.
To date, over £45 BILLION has been raised and distributed to National Lottery Good Causes through more than 660,000 individual grants.
Thanks to National Lottery players, over £1.2bn. is being used by charities and organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which includes over £600M in funding support from the National Lottery Community Fund which is being used to help groups best placed to support people and communities through the crisis.
