Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group will be spreading even more festive cheer this year, after launching a new ‘giving tree’ initiative.
The scheme, which will be delivered with support from Aqualibrium, encourages people to purchase a gift for a deserving young person this Christmas.
On the tree will be numbered gift tags with general details of the recipients; this could be age, gender and/or a request for something they would like to receive for Christmas.
Those who would like to purchase a gift can take a portion of a tag, purchase the item and return it to the tree, with the details taped to their parcel.
It will be entirely up to the ‘giver’ if they include their own details to let the recipient know who purchased the gift.
Anyone who knows a young person who would benefit from a gift is invited to contact the Christmas Lights Group to Give details. The deserving recipient’s name and address must be provided to the Christmas Lights Group, but the tag will remain anonymous.
“There may be nurseries, schools, clubs or organisations working with young people, families themselves or neighbours who can identify a young person who may not be having an easy time and could do with a boost,” said a Christmas Lights Group spokesperson.
“Every year, we see pictures showing mountains of gifts below trees. Some people are not as fortunate to be able to provide much for their child’s Christmas, if anything.
“We appreciate we are in a cost of living crisis, and understand how hard it is financially for families. We are all in different circumstances, so there may be some people who can afford to help out. All we ask are that gifts are a maximum of £30.
“If anyone would like to nominate a young person to receive a gift, please get in touch.”
Details can be send to the Christmas Lights Group via its Facebook page or by emailing ctownxmaslights@hotmail.com, with confidentiality of recipients guaranteed.
The giving tree will be in Aqualibrium from today (Friday November 17) until Friday December 15, to allow delivery of presents in the week beginning Monday December 18.
This year’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place next Friday (November 24). Kintyre Chorale is hosting a concert at Campbeltown Parish Church on Sunday (November 19), which will include songs from the silver screen and musical theatre numbers, in aid of the lights group.