Charity Christmas Card Shops open for business

With a wide range of festive cards, gifts, toys and decorations to browse, there are plenty of reasons to visit local libraries and venues this festive season.

Sheila Hallas MBE, started Combined Charity Christmas Card Shops in 1971; today the concept is proving as popular as ever with local and national charities benefitting from the scheme.

In fifty three years almost £6.5 million has been raised for charities. Francis House Children’s Hospice is proud to have been involved in the scheme for the past 19 years and during that time approximately £58,000 has been raised helping to support the charity that provides respite and end of life care to more than 600 families across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

The card shops generously give 100% of sales back to the charities that they support. This is made possible by a band of dedicated volunteers working in the shops and any overheads are covered by the sale of the gifts, wrapping paper, toys and novelties that are also available to purchase.

From the end of October until early December, visitors can purchase the Christmas cards on sale from a range of charities including Francis House. With each charity averaging 10 different designs and over 40 charities featured there is plenty of choice.

Volunteer Jill Dodson said: “Each year charities are finding it harder and harder to raise money. Selling Charity Christmas Cards is one solution that works and selling them through the Christmas Card shops works even better as all profits are recouped. The charities also tell us how they love to be involved, manning the shop whilst chatting to our customers in a lovely friendly Christmassy setting. Please visit us and experience the ambience of our shops while doing some good for others.”

Francis House charity cards can be found in the Charity Christmas Card Shops in the following libraries in 2024:

Wilmslow Library 26th October – 7th December

Knutsford Library 7th November – 4th December

Sale Waterside 13th November – 28th November

Opening hours vary depending on the library and can be found by visiting www.christmas-cards.org.uk