Shopping centre customers donate over 30,000 gifts to families in need
Visitors to Land Securities operated retail and leisure destinations have donated more than 30,000 gifts for disadvantaged children across the country.
Following the success of the Bluewater Giving Tree, which was launched in conjunction with Heart FM in 2014, Land Securities has implemented a programme of charitable giving initiatives at each location in its portfolio.
This year, Bluewater installed a 20-foot tall Giving Tree on the centre’s upper mall in November for six weeks. Some 15,000 presents were donated this year compared to 11,000 in 2015. The presents will be delivered in time for Christmas to 36 children’s charities
White Rose in Leeds has also had a Giving Tree with visitors donating 5,050 presents in four weeks.
Meanwhile, St David’s in Cardiff launched a Toy Appeal in November in conjunction with Capital FM. Now in its second year, the appeal has resulted in more than 7,500 presents being given to date this Christmas, beating the 5,200 presents donated in 2015. The gifts will be given to disadvantaged children via 20 charities across South Wales
In addition, the management team at Lewisham Shopping Centre has been working with the Metropolitan Police and Barnardo’s and over 500 presents have been received so far.
Jat Sahota, Land Securities’ head of commercial, said: “We would like to thank everyone that has donated a present at one of our centres this Christmas. The generosity of our visitors has been overwhelming and is going to make an incredible difference to tens of thousands of disadvantaged children across the country on Christmas Day.
“Helping local charities to support families in need is a very important initiative that reflects the key role each of our centres plays in their respective areas. Crucially, rather than rolling out the same programme in every location, each centre has responded to local needs to implement a programme of direct benefit to its community.”
