UK: A Christmas tree to help homeless people

Caring Christmas Trees, a social enterprise operated to help homeless people in Scotland, has launched its new Caring Christmas Tree Appeal for Christmas 2007.

The enterprise sells Christmas trees to support Bethany Christian Trust in helping homeless people in Scotland. The initiative ensures that for every tree bought a homeless person will receive a hot meal and shelter as well as advice at the Trust?s shelters and drop-in centres.

The shelter is open from November to March and represents a vital service for those who don?t have a warm house especially in winter.

The trees on sale are sourced from sustainable forests by members of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association. Customers can choose their preferred tree size, pick up point and collection date. Orders must be placed by December 12th.

The Caring Christmas Tree Appeal has been running the initiave since 2005. Since then it has funded more then 7,000 bed spaces for homeless people at Bethany Christian Trust?s Winter Care Shelter in Edinburgh and helped fund the charity?s five drop-in facilities in Fife.

Last year the money raised by the appeal allowed the charity to help more than 750 homeless between November and April – the critical time for homeless people.

The initiative has the support of Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said: "I am delighted to support Bethany Christian Trust's Caring Christmas Tree Appeal and would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all the excellent work they do, not only at Christmas, but all year round.?

Catherine Rawlinson-Watkins, Fundraising Manager, Bethany Christian Trust, said: ?Winter is a very dangerous and unpleasant time to be homeless and the Caring Christmas Tree idea works because it?s very simple. Many people, including the Prime Minister, want new Christmas trees and we need to provide services to the homeless. We are over the moon that Mr Brown is continuing to support our work.?

www.caringchristmastrees.com
www.bethanychristiantrust.com