IN BRIEF
WIRRAL HOSPICE ST JOHN ’ S CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION
FINANCIAL SUPPORT SCHEME OFFERS HELP TO PEOPLE FACING HARDSHIP THIS WINTER
From Friday 14th January 2022 , and for a busy few days afterwards , a small army of Wirral Hospice St John ’ s staff and volunteers , eager to work off their festive feasting , will be buzzing all around Wirral picking up used real Christmas trees from outside people ’ s homes and businesses .
Around thirty large vans , many of which have been lent to the hospice , are sent everywhere around Wirral . One person will take the wheel and navigate a pre-planned postcode route , while one or two crew members , will pick up the tree from each address and load it onto the back of the van .
All volunteers will have gloves , a liberal supply of hand sanitiser and masks ready if they need to converse with a homeowner and , of course , everyone will be working outdoors .
The hospice tree collection makes a significant contribution to funding the hospice ’ s specialist care and support services . People make their suggested , and greatly appreciated , donations , relating to the size of their tree , £ 7 up to 5ft , £ 8 if 6ft , £ 10 if 7ft , and £ 15 over 7ft , and then simply leave their used pine / fir / spruce tree in an accessible spot outside their house or business and soon their tree ‘ magically ’ disappears .
Once each van is fully loaded with trees it is driven to various prearranged temporary ‘ drop-sites ’ around Wirral to offload for chipping , then it ’ s back on the road heading out for the next load . The chipped trees have further recycled uses , maybe in biofuel or even spread around at community farms and paddocks . Other small local charities also receive around ten per cent of the monies raised .
All the people who give their valuable time are well fed and watered while fuel costs are offered to everyone who volunteers the use of their van ( s ).
Every Wirral postcode area is eligible to register and people can book from now , until 11.59pm on Sunday 9th January , to secure the hassle-free collection of their REAL Christmas trees . To register a tree for collection people can book online at : www . wirralhospice . org / treecollection or call 0151 343 0778 .
Families and individuals who are suffering financial hardship are being urged to find out about the support available to people in need this winter .
Wirral Council has secured more than £ 3 million from the Government ’ s Household Support Fund and , after consulting with community and voluntary sector partners and other key stakeholders , has allocated £ 500,000 of the funding to continue and extend its Financial Support with Welfare Needs Scheme to help people in crisis situations .
The Financial Support with Welfare Needs scheme , which replaced the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme temporarily to provide a quicker and easier way to get financial help during the pandemic , is now providing emergency help to residents and contributing towards necessary items and expenses including , specialist food , shoes and clothing , furniture and household goods , white goods , fuel and utilities including phone and broadband bills , travel costs and other essential household expenses and bills .
Wirral Council ’ s assistant director for Neighbourhoods , Safety and Transport and Humanitarian Cell lead , Mark Camborne , said :
“ Although we are returning towards a more normal way of life , many people are still suffering financial hardship and face a very difficult winter ahead . I would therefore urge anyone in genuine need , including people who are usually reluctant to seek help , to find out about the support available .
" Since the start of the Pandemic , the Council and its community and voluntary sector partners have provided an unprecedented amount of support to vulnerable residents and the Household Support Fund will allow us to continue providing much-needed help ."
More information , including how to make an application , is available at www . wirral . gov . uk / welfaresupport or by calling the coronavirus helpline on 0151 666 5050 if you are unable to go online .
All applications to the Financial Support with Welfare Needs scheme are carefully considered against eligibility criteria and evidence of need .
6 wirrallife . com