How Stockport’s The Giving Tree campaign is bringing Christmas to the borough’s most vulnerable
Christmas can be a difficult period for some of us at the best of times.
This year, The Giving Tree scheme will prove more instrumental than ever in lightening the heavy financial burden resting on many shoulders in the Stockport community.
While the merry bells may keep ringing, the festive season is not a 'happy holidays' period for everyone. Christmas can be a difficult and exhausting time for many across the UK, particularly considering the cost of living crisis.
According to the BBC, this year up to September saw the cost of living rise by 8.2% among the poorest, with the rise in benefits behind at 6.7%.
But the human spirit of generosity can always be depended upon to offer support to those most in need, particularly during Christmas time. In Stockport, The Giving Tree scheme continues to provide a steadying hand to the most vulnerable in the community, ensuring that nobody in need will go without a present on Christmas Day.
What is The Giving Tree?
The Giving Tree scheme was spearheaded by Merseyway Central Manager Victoria Nichol 2018. Hearing the devastating stories from the people they were supporting brought home to Victoria just how tough times were for children.
"There would be children not getting anything for Christmas," Victoria said, "and if they did get anything through food banks or children's charities, they might not get what they wanted on their Christmas list."
The Giving Tree scheme was launched from this foundation, and has enjoyed an impressive run, with donations steadily increasing for each of its five existing years.
The scheme revolves around a simple yet powerful concept: tags containing a child or person's age, gender, and a wish from their Christmas list are placed on trees around the Stockport borough.
These can be taken down by members of the public, who go and buy the item. They bring the gift, unwrapped, to a collection point near the tree. The presents are then distributed to the people they were intended for. Often these distributions will take place at schools or community centres.
Last year, more than 7,000 presents and essentials were provided to local children and adults across Stockport. An additional 386 warm winter items were collected which were dispersed among the most vulnerable, along with information about staying warm in the harsh winter months.
For those wishing to donate, a beautiful white tree draped in stark red tags is situated in Merseyway Shopping Centre, but there have also been tags distributed among nurses in the wards of Stepping Hill Hospital.
Stockport County FC are lending their support to the scheme this year, and have taken 50-100 tags to donate gifts themselves. Businesses in the area have also taken to purchasing gifts for the tree instead of running a secret Santa.
How does it work?
The scheme is a monumental undertaking. Organisers and volunteers reach out to schools and local neighbourhood teams in Stockport and ask them which families will struggle the most to buy Christmas presents that year. They will call or visit the families and get three items the child or person may want, which are put on the tags.
One year, it took Victoria and her team three to four days to write out all the tags for the trees.
Despite the work that goes into putting the scheme together, the feedback the organisers get from those who benefit is more than worth it.
Victoria recalled one year when she got a call from a woman who worked with local families. The woman asked if she had anything left to help a family with three children who were going through difficult times, meaning the mother had been unable to afford gifts for her children.
The organiser put a bundle of gifts and a few vouchers together which was then picked up and dropped off to the family.
Later, a text from the mother was forwarded to Victoria.
Victoria said: "It read something like: 'I cannot believe it, every single item that has been sent to me is just perfect for our children. I'm crying, [my partner] is crying, we just cannot believe what you have done for us today.
"Thank you to everyone at The Giving Tree. I can now breathe."
Victoria added: "That was probably one of the most powerful messages I have ever received during the whole campaign."
More important than ever
In line with the financial strain rapidly expanding to affect many UK households, the need for schemes like The Giving Tree have increased.
This year, Victoria admitted to feeling apprehensive about the success of the scheme after learning that food banks were having to go out and buy their own food to give to those in need.
"These people who [had been] donating - they were having to access the food banks as well this year," she said.
In spite of this, more people than ever before have gone out of their way this year to ensure that everyone can experience the joy of receiving a gift at Christmas.
Victoria said: "[Because of the cost of living crisis] people realise that the need is greater and so they're giving more."
The organiser hopes to continue the scheme for as long as she is in her current position as Centre Manager.
She said, "Under my watch there will never be a situation where someone doesn't get anything [for Christmas]. I'll make it happen."
This year's Giving Tree will be hosted in collaboration with Ongoing Women's Local Support and Stockport schools and will be open until 17 December 2023. Anyone making a donation is encouraged to leave their gift at the dedicated donation station outside Specsavers or at the centre's management suite.
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