Hospice needs volunteers, vans and van drivers to support Christmas Tree recycling scheme!

November 29, 2021

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is asking the local community for their support with its annual Christmas Tree collection, sponsored by Cooke, Curtis & Co (Trumpington) and Cyber Business Growth (Royston). The ‘treasure hunt for trees’ will be taking place on Thursday 6, Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 January 2022.

It is the seventh year of the fundraising scheme which last year saw more than 2900 pre-loved trees collected and composted, raising over £54,000 for the Hospice’s vital frontline services! The scheme depends on a unique collaboration between the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity team, Just Helping, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire County Council, local businesses and scores of volunteers who generously donate their time.

This year’s recycling scheme covers the CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB21, CB22, CB23 and CB24 postcodes. An additional area for this year will also be CB25 postcodes situated in Waterbeach. In exchange for taking away your tree, the Charity welcomes a donation to the Hospice.

The trees will be chipped at temporary drop off points and either used as mulch or chippings in the Hospice gardens, or at the drop off sites.

There is one element of the plan which still requires some extra support. Alison Pinney, Community Fundraiser explains: “We are appealing for more volunteers who can drive (preferably their own van) and crew members, to help us this January so we can achieve our target. We will be running the scheme in line with the any current government guidelines, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our volunteers.”

If you, and/or someone you know, might be able to help, please contact the Hospice’s fundraising team on 01223 675888 or email christmastrees@arhc.org.uk. A video illustrating what is involved when you volunteer as a tree collector can be found on Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s YouTube channel (short watch – 1 min 36 seconds).

If you live within the postcode areas listed and would like to register your tree for collection, we can do all the hard work for you! Visit arhc.org.uk/tree-recycling and register your tree to avoid awkward tree handling, needles in your car, queuing at the tip and petrol costs! Registrations close at 10.00am on 4 January 2022.