As people around the region prepare for Christmas, St Mary’s Hospice is offering a way to ensure the gift giving doesn’t end on the big day. They’ve launched their annual tree recycling scheme, which helps local people get rid of their trees and has the added benefit of generating income they can use to deliver viral services.
The Hospice has to raise £2.6m every year toward the cost of providing care — with eight out of every ten patients they look after having their care funded by donations from local people and businesses.
They’ve partnered with national organisation Just Helping, who recycle over one million trees across the UK every year. Just Helping partner with a different charity in each area — which means that money generated from their scheme stays in the area from which it came.
Head of Fundraising Helen Carlson said: “Recycling your tree is a great thing to do for the environment, and it gets rid of the tree quickly and efficiently once the festivities are over.
“The fact you can do that and generate income for a local cause is a bonus — and we’re really grateful to be working with Just Helping again this year.”
St Mary’s will be open all over Christmas; with care provided for up to eight patients at a time in the InPatient-Unit and dozens more in their own homes, via their Hospice at Home service.
Helen added: “Things don’t stop for our clinical team over the festive period, and while they are out delivering care it’s great to think that we can still work on providing funds via a scheme like the tree recycling.”
A local team will collect Christmas trees between Friday, 12 January 2024 – Saturday, 13 January 2024, from houses across all LA11, LA12, LA13, LA14, LA15, LA16, LA17, LA18, LA19, LA20 and LA21 postcodes — but you do have to register online before January 8th to be included.
To register please visit www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree