Give a gift locally this Christmas

The Cornish Christmas Giving Catalogue for 2016 is officially launched this week.

With Christmas just over a month away, towns are packed with shoppers all looking for that perfect gift. Why not give a gift locally this Christmas and do something good for the community at the same time?

The Cornish Christmas Giving catalogue features many worthy local groups and charities who are all working in Cornwall to provide assistance, support, activities, beds and more to people in our own community.

This year you can choose from 20 Cornish charities to donate to and in return you will receive a gift certificate to pass on to your family member or friend. Gifts start from just £2 up to £70 for a back pack bed.

Among the organisations in this year’s catalogue are Backpack Beds, Cornwall Befriending Service, Cornwall Dyslexia Association, Cornwall Night Stop, Cosgarne Hall, Coastal Zone, Camborne / Pool / Redruth Foodbank, Hidden Help, Nature Workshop, Play Zone, Roaming Penzance, the Samaritans, Sea Sanctuary, St Petroc’s Society, Truro Community Football and Wired Cornwall.

Paul Green (Backpack Beds) and Colin Robinson (Cornwall Christmas Giving Coordinator)

Over the past three years, the The Cornwall Christmas Giving Catalogue has helped fund charity Backpack Beds (Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum) and has purchased over 100 of the new portable shelter backpacks that are distributed to people facing a night on the street. Paul Green from Backpack Beds explains:

“This simply would not be possible without the support of the Christmas Giving Catalogue and the donations pledged because of it.”

Another charity which benefits from the money raised through the catalogue is Camborne, Pool and Redruth Foodbank (CPR). Manager Don Gardner says:

“The proceeds of the catalogue help us to deliver 10,000 meals each month to people who need them most. In addition to this, the team of 84 volunteers will also be delivering 1080 Christmas lunches this year. The catalogue is a great support to our ongoing work and we couldn’t do without it.”

For Director and founder of Cornwall Befriending Service (CBS) Rowena Koning, it is the first year the charity has taken part in the catalogue and Rowena hopes it will help CBS to continue their work helping those in need, offering free debt and financial advice and support.

Rowena Koning (Cornwall Befriending Service) and Andrew Yates (Chair, Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum) next to the CPR Christmas ‘Can’ Tree

Rowena says:

“I think the Alternative Christmas Catalogue is a great idea and we feel privileged to be part of it. We look forward it supporting the work we do. It really is such a worthwhile project.“

View the Cornish Christmas Giving Catalogue