Santa sailed across Ullswater to launch a Christmas card charity appeal.
Father and Mrs Christmas took time out from their seasonal preparations at one of England’s most beautiful lakes help promote the launch of this year’s Cards for Good Causes (CFGC) which will see cards sold at Tourist Information centres around Eden.
A number of the centres in Alston, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Kirkby Stephen and Penrith are outlets for an extensive range of charity Christmas cards and gifts and staff look forward to welcoming visitors and local people in the run up to Christmas.
Eden District Council’s tourism team joined forces with Ullswater Steamers to help launch the pop up shops and were joined by Vicky Monaghan, regional manager for CFGC. Father and Mrs Christmas helped load cards and gifts on board one of the famous Ullswater boats as they prepared to set sail to different parts of the Eden area.
“It is always a pleasure to see a number of our tourist centres across Eden link up with CFGC to help raise money that will make a big difference to some amazing charities,” said Charlie Thornton – Tourism Development Officer, Eden District Council.
“TICs provide a perfect backdrop for CFGC’s pop up card and gift shops. Not only are centres located in prominent locations within towns around the area but the pop up shops strengthen the already excellent relationships that TICs have established with the local community as well as the many thousands of visitors they welcome into the area every year.”
The cards are sold on behalf of a wide range of well known national charities. For every £1 spent 70p goes direct the charity. Over the years, charities around the UK have benefited substantially from the sales of Christmas cards and gifts sold from pop up shops around the country.
This is a particularly significant year for CFGC as they mark their 60th birthday. Over the last six decades, charities have received in excess of £100 million from CFGC with the tireless support of thousands of volunteers across the country. During the past 18 years that TICs across Eden have been involved with CFGC they have contributed in excess of £100,000 towards the charities, an amazing achievement from all involved.
TICs have been used by CFGC for many years as they are seen as important community hubs across the country. Not only that, TICs also encourage many thousands of visitors, including a growing number of overseas visitors, to discover more about the region. They provide an important role in providing local people holiday planning information and advice for other parts of the country.
“Buying charity Christmas cards is one of the simplest ways to support good causes this festive season,” Vicky Monaghan said, adding: “Our pop up shops within some of Eden’s network of TICs stock one of the widest ranges of Christmas cards anywhere. The proceeds from every card or product sold make a vital contribution to the work of the charities that we partner.”
Shoppers can choose from hundreds of different Christmas card designs, as well as traditional advent calendars and candles, wrapping paper, gift tags, and napkins and stocking fillers.
