Garden Centre hosts Christmas Shopping Night in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

Dobbies Edinburgh store will mark the start of its festive events season with the return of its late-night Christmas Shopping Night this November, in support of its National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.   

Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night, taking place on Thursday 21 November from 5pm to 9pm, is offering customers the chance to experience Christmas, in every sense, as it opens its doors for the popular late-night shopping event.

From fragrant tree displays, twinkling lights and eye-catching decorations, to the sounds of Christmas music and jingle bells, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and experience the magic of Christmas at Dobbies, while browsing its 2024 festive collections and taking advantage of special offers.

On arrival, guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of fizz and invited to browse up until 9pm to experience Christmas, in every sense. Guests can enjoy some festive food treats and live demonstrations throughout the store, as well as enjoy a special two-course Christmas menu in the restaurant for just £17.

Local community groups can also apply to take part in the evening’s festivities by decorating their very own faux Christmas tree to be unveiled on the night. Entries are now open for schools, charities and community groups, with a number of stores selecting up to three groups to decorate their tree in time for Christmas Shopping Night. Selected groups will be invited to put on a special tree-side performance, with carols, readings and songs. The decorated trees will form part of Dobbies’ magical festive displays and remain on show in the store in the run up to Christmas.

Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager said: “Our annual Christmas Shopping Night is a fantastic way to get into the festive spirit, while contributing to a great cause. We have raised more than £1.39million for Teenage Cancer Trust since the start of our partnership.

“We’re excited to welcome local groups to take part in this year’s celebrations, including the unveiling of the specially decorated Christmas trees. You can also get your Christmas shopping off to a great start with special offers and gift ideas for all your family.”

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationships Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Dobbies for their ongoing support and dedication to raising vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

“Events like the Christmas Shopping Night help us to continue to provide life-changing care and support to young people with cancer across the UK. We’re thrilled to be part of such a magical evening, and it’s heartwarming to see the community come together to support our cause.”

Tickets are priced at £1, available at www.dobbies.com and in-store, and all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising on the night will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.

For more information on Decorate your Christmas Tree with Dobbies, visit: events.dobbies.com.

Explore Dobbies’ new season ranges and browse festive inspiration at www.dobbies.com.

Aldi Scotland employees support Teenage Cancer Trust by running the London Marathon 

Aldi is set to boost its donation to Teenage Cancer Trust thanks to two Scottish employees running the London Marathon in aid of the charity today.  

Kathy Hill, a Store Assistant from Aldi’s Dunfermline store, and Kevin Regan, a Store Manager in Livingston, are gearing up to pound the pavements in support of the worthy cause on 21st April.  

With almost four years of service at Aldi Scotland, Kathy, 58, is dedicated to making a difference in her local community, which extends to her decision to participate. She began her rigorous training regimen in January, supported by her colleagues, family, and local running club, after applying on a whim with her children.   

Kevin, 57, has been working at Aldi for more than 24 years. Despite the challenges posed by the Scottish weather, the keen runner has been enjoying the preparations and has already raised £2,200 individually for Teenage Cancer Trust.   

Aldi’s commitment to Teenage Cancer Trust has been steadfast since 2017. Only last week, the supermarket announced it was extending its fundraising target to £15 million by 2027, after surpassing the initial target of £10 million three years ahead of schedule.  

The funds raised by Aldi have contributed to providing essential resources for young cancer patients, including specialist nurses, support coordinators, and multidisciplinary team coordinators. 

Kathy said: “I am incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from colleagues and customers at Aldi, especially as my training has been quite intensive.

“Their encouragement has been a driving force behind my marathon journey, and I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to give back to such a worthy cause. “

Reflecting on his preparations, Kevin shared: “Teenage Cancer Trust is a fantastic charity and the fact that Aldi has just reached the £10 million fundraising mark for Teenage Cancer Trust is amazing.

“I feel honoured to play a part in that. The community, the store, and the staff have all really supported me. A day doesn’t go by without someone wishing me well.” 

Graham Nicolson, Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We are immensely proud of our longstanding partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and the impactful work we’ve accomplished together.

“Surpassing our initial fundraising target of £10 million three years ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our colleagues and customers. Kathy and Kevin’s commitment to fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust through running the London Marathon represents Aldi’s commitment to supporting important charities.  

“Their efforts, along with the ongoing support from our Scottish communities, reinforce our shared values of community engagement and corporate responsibility. We are confident that their participation will not only raise vital funds but also inspire others to join us in our mission to provide essential resources and support to young cancer patients across the UK, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.” 

Kathy and Kevin’s fundraising links can be found below: 

Kevin Regan, Store Manager, Livingston: https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/80dc4/2024TCSLondonMarathon#!/ 

Kathy Hill, Store Assistant, Dunfermline:  
https://www.justgiving.com/page/kathy-hill-1708868353852?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fkathy-hill-1708868353852&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=pfp-email 

SAMARITANS: We believe in tomorrow

We’re so honoured that Samaritans has been chosen as Charity of the Year for the 2024 TCS London Marathon today.

To mark this iconic occasion, our incredible community of runners, volunteers and supporters are coming together to tackle the stigma surrounding suicide by spreading messages of hope.  

We all struggle to cope sometimes, and one in five of us have had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives. But suicide can be prevented and we can all play a part.

Join us in our latest campaign, as we encourage the nation to believe in tomorrow and support others to do the same.

To mark this iconic occasion, our incredible community of runners, volunteers and supporters are coming together to tackle the stigma surrounding suicide by spreading messages of hope.  

We all struggle to cope sometimes, and one in five of us have had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives.

But suicide can be prevented and we can all play a part.

Join us in our latest campaign, as we encourage the nation to believe in tomorrow and support others to do the same.

Charity shopping night at Dobbies’ Edinburgh stores in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

Garden centre unveils fundraising festivities

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and Stockbridge little dobbies are celebrating the festive season this November with a Christmas Shopping Night fundraiser in aid of National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Families in Edinburgh are invited to join Dobbies for an evening of seasonal shopping on Thursday 30 November from 5-9pm, with tickets priced at £1 available in store and online now. To help raise awareness, vital funds and spread kindness, all proceeds from ticket sales will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, alongside additional fundraising efforts from activities on the night.

Customers can explore Dobbies brand-new Christmas themes for 2023, be inspired with great value decorations that will adorn any home and take advantage of exclusive deals. Attendees can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, enjoy seasonal songs and book in to experience Santa’s Grotto where children can meet Mr Claus himself.

Cancer kills more teenagers and young adults in the UK than any other disease, and for those that are lucky enough to survive, getting the right physical and emotional support is vital for recovery.

Every day, seven young people aged 13-24 are told they have cancer, and it’s projected that by 2030 this number will be closer to 10. Supporting Teenage Cancer Trust with donations helps fund specialist nurses and youth workers to be there for a young person that’s battling cancer.

Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, has been working closely with Teenage Cancer Trust to raise awareness of the fantastic work they carry out.

She said: “Our late-night shopping events in Edinburgh are a great chance to gather the family, get into the festive spirit and support a charity that’s making such a difference to teenagers and young adults across the UK.

“Last year our fundraising efforts saw over £100k donated to the charity, and we’re hoping to top this benchmark with the help of our customers.”

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationship Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night is a memorable occasion and one our team, supporters and volunteers look forward to every year.

It’s a great chance for communities to get together, share a magical experience and raise vital funds to help us deliver life-changing work to teenagers and young adults battling cancer.”

November is TCT Takeover month for Dobbies, with a social takeover on 2 November, donation weekends in store, donations encouraged for event bookings and the Christmas Shopping Night.

Tickets for the Christmas Shopping Night are £1 per person, with all funds raised going to TCT. Santa’s Grotto will be available to pre book at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store. In addition, customers can enjoy 2 courses for £16.99 in the restaurant, allowing visitors to get a taste of the Christmas menu.

This is only bookable online for Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and reservations can be made by visiting Events | Dobbies Garden Centres.

For more information about Dobbies Christmas Shopping Night in partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, visit Events | Dobbies Garden Centres 

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store to host festive shopping night in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust

The most magical time of the year is almost here and Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is welcoming the start of the festive season with a special charity shopping night in aid of National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

This is taking place in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store on Thursday 24 November, 5-9pm, with tickets on sale now. 

The Christmas Shopping Night is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to explore great-value festive gifts, decorations and products and get into the Christmas spirit.

There will be a welcome drink on arrival plus the chance to enjoy the exclusive shopping offers available on the night. With the Christmas themes for 2022 displayed throughout the stores there will be decorating inspiration for all, no matter your style or budget. 

Dobbies’ popular Santa’s Grotto will launch in its Edinburgh store for a special preview as well as bookable tables in the restaurant offering a taste of the Christmas menu.

Available on the night will be two courses for £14.95 with the option of traditional roast turkey dinner or vegetarian Christmas dinner with Quorn sausages, followed by Christmas pudding or mince pie cheesecake.

Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager at Dobbies said: “We’ve raised over £1.2m for Teenage Cancer Trust and our Christmas Shopping Night is a great opportunity, not only for customers in Edinburgh to enjoy a festive night out and exclusive offers, but contribute to raising funds for an incredibly worthwhile cause.”

Tickets are priced at £1, available at dobbies.com and in-store, and all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising on the night will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. It is also possible to opt in to make a donation to the charity when booking other festive events online.

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationships Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are delighted to see the return of Dobbies Christmas Shopping Night this year – an event our volunteers love to be part of.

“It’s companies like Dobbies, and their incredible team members and customers taking part in events like this, that allow us to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.”

Attendees in Edinburgh are invited to take a photo in-store for the chance to win a prize.

Customers can share their photos on social media by using #DobbiesChristmasNight and tagging @dobbiesgardencentres to automatically be entered.

For more Christmas inspiration and to browse Dobbies’ new season ranges, visit:

 www.dobbies.com

Dobbies’ stores across Edinburgh gets into the festive spirit with a Christmas Shopping Night

Raising funds for national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is inviting shoppers across Edinburgh to join them for extended shopping hours to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Taking place from 5pm to 9pm on Thursday 25 November in Dobbies’ Edinburgh and Livingston stores, in addition to little dobbies Stockbridge, the Christmas Shopping Night will showcase the Christmas ranges, and feature competitions, discount vouchers, demos and sampling.

Customers across Edinburgh will have the opportunity to make donations to Dobbies’ national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, write festive messages on Christmas baubles for the Wish Tree, and win prizes in a fantastic festive raffle.

The Christmas Your Way raffle will offer customers the chance to win all the items featured on specially created Christmas trees. There’s a tree for chocolate fans in partnership with Lindt, one for kids with Living Nature, one for those who love their pets with Chuckit, gardening gurus with Burgon and Ball, and fashionistas with Powder. The raffle will open on the night and close on 17December.

*Dobbies’ stores will offer an exclusive preview of their Christmas Grotto and customers will be able to enjoy a two-course festive meal at Dobbies’restaurants for £12.95, choosing from vegan and vegetarian options as well as traditional turkey with all the trimmings. This is bookable in advance.

Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager said: “Christmas is a time of year we all look forward to at Dobbies stores across Edinburgh, and we can’t wait to welcome people for a full festive experience with our late opening evening. There will be a free welcome drink and a range of Christmas gifts, decorations and products to choose from.

“Most importantly, we are raising funds for our national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, who do incredible work with young people across the country. It’s going to be the perfect way to get the festive season started.”

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationship Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted to collaborating with Dobbies as they stay open late on 25 November.

“The donations from Dobbies’ customers will enable us to give the gift of care from our nurses, or the gift of community on one of our specialist units, to young cancer patients across the UK.”

For more details on Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night, visit:

https://www.dobbies.com/events

There is a £1 donation to attend, with all monies raised going to Teenage Cancer Trust – this is available in-store in advance or on the night.

Dobbies is also going to be sharing some festive joy in the run up to Christmas, celebrating community groups, charities, clubs and neighbourhoods who make a difference to their local areas.

Not Your Average Community will see three local groups from across the UK win £1,000 to spend on decorations to brighten up their local area for Christmas.

For more details visit https://www.dobbies.com/not-your-average-community.

*little dobbies Stockbridge is excluded from the Christmas Grotto and restaurant offering.

Barratt supports three local charities

Young people and mental health are the focus of Barratt East Scotland’s latest charitable donation round.  Barratt has made donations of £1,000 each to 3 Scotland-based charities: 

·       Penumbra – a mental health charity supporting adults and young people

·       Richmond’s Hope – supporting bereaved young people aged 4-18yrs

·       Teenage Cancer Trust – providing support and treatment for young people aged 13-24 

As part of its Community Fund, the homebuilder is committed to supporting a selection of local charities, chosen by Barratt staff, within Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians with new donations every month throughout 2019. 

Alison Condie, Managing Director, Barratt Homes East Scotland, said: “The work that Penumbra, Richmond’s Hope and Teenage Cancer Trust do is crucial to the communities in which we operate.

“We are delighted that our donations will make such a difference to people – especially children and young adults – in our local area. Every charity we support though our Community Fund initiative is chosen by our staff and the causes they support are close to our hearts.” 

Nigel Henderson, chief executive of Penumbra, said: “As a mental health charity providing support to around 1800 adults and young people across Scotland each week, we are delighted to benefit from the Barratt Homes East Community Fund.

“We have a range of projects across Scotland, supporting people who experience mental ill health to live fulfilling lives in their communities. This money will support our Recovery Fund which enables people to try out new activities and opportunities.”

Barratt Homes is committed supporting the communities in which it operates. 

For more information on Barratt Homes and the communities it operates in visit www.barratthomes.co.uk. To find out more about the incredible work being done at Penumbra, visit www.penumbra.org.uk

To learn more about the work Richmond’s Hope do to support bereaved children, visit www.richmondshope.org.uk, and to learn about Teenage Cancer Trust, visit www.teenagecancertrust.org.

Briggs Commends Education for Young People on Cancer Prevention

It is particularly relevant during 2018 Year of Young People to focus on the education of young people on lifestyle choices that can significantly risk the chance of getting cancer. The Teenager Cancer Trust’s education and awareness programme is now able to reach 80% of secondary schools in Scotland and Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conseratives health spokesman, supports their aim to achieve 100% coverage. Continue reading Briggs Commends Education for Young People on Cancer Prevention

Duchess of York opens teenage cancer centre at Western

Sarah, Duchess of York has opened a £1.35m facility at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital for young people with cancer. The Duchess chatted to some of the first young patients to benefit from the new facilities at the Western.

About 200 young people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year.

This new, state-of-the-art facility created in partnership with NHS Lothian offers young cancer patients from the Lothians, Borders, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway a place to receive treatment where they can feel at home.

The facility also offers young cancer patients the best possible care and support as well as the best possible access to treatment options via the specialist team of nursing and support staff, all experts in teenager and young adult cancer care. The additional support local patients will now be able to receive from each other is also an invaluable part of this new service.

Bethany Millar-Gourlay, 19, was diagnosed with Leukaemia last summer and is one of the first patients to use the new facilities. Bethany said: “I used to come to the adult ward for treatment and I was the youngest there. Although the other patients were very kind to me I did miss people my own age and having things to do. I’m now having my maintenance chemotherapy at this new unit and it so different. It looks great and there’s a lot to do.”

The new unit that is vibrant and colourful, decorated in purple, green and blue with eye-catching wall designs featuring the Edinburgh skyline. It has four single patient bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. It also boasts a large open-plan activity and social room which includes a kitchen and dining area, as well as an area to watch TV, a jukebox, and a gaming area.

There’s also a day care room for outpatient treatment and a quiet room where young people and their families can spend time. Wi-fi throughout the unit also allows young patients to keep in touch with friends and family in the outside world.

Dawn Crosby, Teenage Cancer Trust head of service strategy in Scotland said: “This unit looks amazing but more than that, it will significantly improve young cancer patients experience, helping them and their families feel less alone.

“All of the money has been raised locally in a really difficult financial climate. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has given generously and helped make this happen.”

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