Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is looking for volunteers and van owners to help with its fourth annual Christmas tree recycling scheme on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 January. The Hospice Charity is urgently widening its search for helpers, as it has witnessed an unprecedented demand!
Last year Arthur Rank Hospice Charity tree collection teams collected 1000 pre-loved trees, raising more than £12,600. 90% of the funds raised by the scheme help fund the Hospice’s care, supporting those living with a life-limiting illness in Cambridgeshire, with 10% donated a local cause nominated by the tree collection volunteers. Hopes are high that with the help of community-minded businesses and individuals, funds raised this year could top £15,000.
154 trees have already been registered for collection with the Hospice; which is already more than double the number registrations at this date last year. The Hospice’s community fundraisers are expecting the trend to continue, especially as another postcode – CB23 – has been added to CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB22, & CB24. As Community Fundraiser Bec Beattie explains, it is essential to get more volunteers on board:
“Most of our tree registrations will come in between Christmas and New Year, so we are anticipating collecting well in excess of 1000 trees this year! To ensure our Christmas tree collection runs like clockwork, we are looking for more volunteers and more vans: the more helpers we have the more trees we can collect and the more donations we will receive.”
Those who wish to have the hassle taken out of the post-Christmas clear-up – and who live in the mentioned postcodes – can register their tree register online at arhc.org.uk/treerecycling where there is the opportunity to give a donation. The Charity’s little helpers then collect the registered trees on 11 and 12 January and take them to Cambridge City Council’s waste management depot to be composted. It is a great way to ensure that your tree is safely disposed out without the hassle of battling with dropping needles or hoovering the car!
Those donating vehicles (preferably with drivers!) and volunteers will be given everything they need for their ‘treasure hunt for trees’, including route maps and lunch! It’s a satisfying and active initiative to be involved in as Tony Murdock from Quy Mill Hotel and Spa, explains:
“We’ve been involved in this Christmas tree recycling scheme for four years now. It’s great to support our local Hospice with an initiative that raises so much money for its essential care. Not only that, but it’s proved to be great fun getting out of the office in the New Year, to work off those extra mince pies you’ve eaten over Christmas!”
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity needs to secure £8.1 million every year to deliver its services free of charge to patients and their loved ones. Only about half of this currently comes from commissioned income. The Charity is hugely grateful the local community, which contributes the remainder and whose support with initiatives - such as the Christmas tree recycling scheme - is critical in helping make every moment count.
If you would like to volunteer or would be interested in offering sponsorship, please email bec.beattie@arhc.org.uk or call 01223 675885. Alternatively, for further details, to register for a tree to be collected or to find answers to some frequently asked questions please visit: arhc.org.uk/treerecycling.