On Friday, 29th November, children and young adults from North East charity St Oswald’s Hospice switched on over 70 illuminated Christmas trees along Gosforth High Street.
The festive initiative, organised by Sanderson Young Estate Agents, saw the Christmas trees installed on the first-floor exteriors of buildings along the High Street, including two newly refurbished St Oswald’s Hospice charity shops.
Gosforth High Street is a stone’s throw from the Hospice itself where people with life limiting conditions, including children and young adults aged 0-25, receive expert and compassionate care. On Friday evening several young people went along to enjoy the celebration close to their home-away-from-home, getting into the festive spirit as they helped light up the local area.
Holly Smith, Acting Matron of St Oswald’s Hospice’s Children and Young Adults Service, said:
“At St Oswald’s Hospice, we’re committed to creating magical moments for our children and their families, and the light switch-on was certainly one of them.
“The children had an amazing evening. You could see their excitement build during the countdown, and the cheer as the lights came on was wonderful. We’re so grateful to Sanderson Young Estate Agents for inviting us to take part in such a great event. It’s safe to say the whole Children and Young Adults team is now in full Christmas mode!”
The merriment extended to the Hospice’s retail team, who marked their first Christmas trading season since the refurbishment of their flagship charity shop and bookshop on Gosforth High Street earlier this year.
Marc Riley, Gosforth Shop Manager, shared how the team embraced the festivities:
“It was great to find out that our flagship charity shop had an illuminated Christmas tree! Our staff and volunteers were really excited and offered to stay late to host a special late-night shopping event to celebrate the light switch-on.
“Finances can be tight around Christmas, but shopping second-hand allows customers to bag a bargain while supporting a great cause. 100% of the profits from our shops go directly towards supporting families across the North East who use our hospice services. It’s feel-good Christmas shopping at its finest!”
Andrew Moir, Head of Retail at St Oswald’s Hospice, reflected on the event’s success:
“Local High Streets have been getting quieter as mainstream retailers close, but the charity retail sector is growing. More people are buying second-hand to live more sustainably and support charities like St Oswald’s Hospice. Seeing Gosforth High Street buzzing with activity—shopping, singing, eating, and drinking—was a fantastic way to kick off the festive season. A huge thank you to Sanderson Young Estate Agents for bringing the community together.”
Duncan Young, Chairman of Sanderson Young Estate Agents, who generously organised the initiative, added: “We are delighted with success of the first year and believe it’s a great foundation to build upon in the future to bring more business and prosperity to our busy High Street. I was so thrilled to see the children of St. Oswald’s there on the evening and their excitement when pressing the button. Roll on next year!”
The illuminated Christmas tree initiative was also sponsored by other generous organisations, including the L.G.A. Foundation, Reeves Independent Financial Advisers, and Sweeney Miller, as well as Sanderson Young themselves.