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Could you volunteer during Treecycling weekend?
Volunteers and vans are required to join Diverse Abilities’ efforts for a sustainable Christmas as part of its Treecycling fundraising initiative.
The Treecycling weekend takes place from Friday 6 January until Monday 9 January 2023 when the charity will be collecting Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, and Ringwood’s Christmas trees for recycling following the festive period. Volunteers are required to drive vans and wayfind, as well as dropping off the trees at nominated recycling points across the conurbation and beyond.
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Claire Cooper, fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, said: “Treecycling is a great way to get out in the fresh air and blow away the cobwebs following the Christmas period. It’s one of our most important fundraisers of the year and allows us to raise vital money for the children and adults we support. 2022 was a recordbreaking year for the collection, and we’re hoping to increase the number of trees collected this year.”
Vans, of transit size or larger, are required to help with the collection and businesses, families, or community groups with access to these are encouraged to get in touch and provide support over the weekend.
Claire said: “There’s no need to give up your whole weekend, just providing a day or even a few hours will help to make a huge difference to collecting all the trees booked over the festive period. It’s always a really fun weekend, and we look forward to welcoming more volunteers onboard this year.”
Those interested in being part of the collections can email treecycling@diverseabilities.org. uk or call 01202 711507 to find out more.
Alternatively, visit diverseabilities.org.uk/trees for a full list of locations that trees can be collected from, and to book your tree collection for a suggested £10 donation. www.diverseabilities.org.uk This Christmas, Dorset Chamber invites you to donate food and personal care items to its Festive FoodBank in aid of Faithworks - a local charity that works alongside people through times of crisis, practically building hope and resilience.
Faithworks supports people affected by homelessness, food poverty, debt, addiction, and lone parenting. Through its Food Bank+ in Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne and Blandford, it offers help for those struggling to pay for food and personal care supplies.
To get involved choose from the items listed below and bring them to the Dorset Chamber Christmas Lunch event on 1st December or deliver them to the Dorset Chamber office. From there they will be distributed via the Faithworks network to local hardpressed individuals and families. Food Bank + Donation: • Coffee and sugar • Jam • Tinned soup • Squash • Semi-skimmed UHT milk
Help for Homeless donation • Toiletries especially toothpaste • New underwear (small and medium for M and F) • New socks
You can also donate funds directly to: Faithworks or to the Homelessness Partnership. Donations should be delivered to the Dorset Chamber office no later than 14th December so they can be distributed over the Christmas period.
Ian Girling, chief executive Dorset Chamber “No family or individual should be without the essentials of food, clothing or personal care at any time of year, let alone at Christmas. Our mission at Dorset Chamber is to enable better lives through business so if we can make a difference, we want to help.
“Dorset Chamber members are incredibly generous, so we’re hoping to see some great donations through the Festive Foodbank at our Christmas lunch event and throughout December. Even if it’s just a pair of socks or a tin of soup, it all counts.”
TV celebrity Debra Stephenson will turn on the Christmas lights in Westbourne as it gears up for a month of festive celebrations. The former Coronation Street actor and Loose Woman star will be joined by the mayor and mayoress of Bournemouth on 3 December at 4.30pm for the big switch-on.
The Westbourne Christmas Festival is expected to attract hundreds every Saturday in December. Run by Westbourne Business Association, in partnership with Bournemouth Coastal BID, local traders and businesses are renowned for making the place look fun and festive.
Bars, pubs, cafés and coffee shops will be open to welcome visitors, who can also take advantage of late night shopping on Thursdays. There will be storytelling and live music while the shops – which include many independent retailers – showcase their gifts.
Fiona McArthur, from the Bournemouth Coastal BID, said: “This festival in Westbourne is one of many things we will be supporting across our areas in the run-up to Christmas.
“Every Saturday in December there will be storytelling at 10.30am and live music all afternoon.
“The Thursday late night shopping is sponsored by Midas Prosecco – a locally-owned prosecco company – and there will be free popcorn and pizza.
“Traders will be collecting food and clothing for Hope for Food and all donations are welcome.” www.westbournechristmas.com
