The Leith Collective lends a helping hand this Christmas

The Leith Collective’s Logo. Picture Source: The Leith Collective

A September 2022 survey by YouGov showed that a fifth of UK families had considered cancelling Christmas altogether. Over 60 per cent reported they would be spending significantly less on Christmas this year due to the cost-of-living crisis. So, will the cost-of-living Grinch steal Christmas?

A Glasgow store based in the St. Enoch Centre run by The Leith Collective, formerly known as The Clydesdale Collective, holds, at its core, a solid ethical value and is committed to improving people's lives wherever possible. The store’s founder, Sara Thomson, explains how the store is making valuable changes to local people. She said: “The Leith Collective now has three stores: two in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow 

“We are the UK’s first single-use plastic-free shop. We support over 300 local makers, including upcycling artists, mixed media, and any artist working in a creative sector willing to change how they sell products not to use single-use plastics.

“We have also launched a few campaigns to help our communities. We have a free coat campaign, so if you have a spare coat at home, please bring it in. If you need one, please come in and take them”

The store is keen to tackle hidden poverty in Glasgow and, this year is helping families keep the magic of Christmas. The store has launched a Christmas tree exchange alongside its pre-existing coat campaign.

Sara explains how many people change their decoration theme every few years alongside purchasing a new tree and is urging people to donate them instead. She said: “We are also running a Christmas tree campaign this year.

“Christmas trees are massive contributors to plastic waste, and they don’t go anywhere; they sit in a landfill. So, if you have a spare one or buying a new one this year, please bring it in.

“We have a waiting list of people who need one; your old tree will be passed along to a new family to enjoy.

“Just like the coats, we will have some set up in the store with decorations for people to come in and take. No questions or explanation needed”.

Sara Thomson from The Lieth Collective discusses some of their Christmas donation campaigns. Video shot and edited by Tighe Wylie.

The Leith Collective also works closely alongside local charities to help support Glasgow’s most vulnerable wherever possible. Sara explained: “We are also linked up with a few charities. A few work with refugees that have been housed in the city.

“They are housed very quickly and normally don’t have anything when they arrive. Something we do to help is they can come and pick up trees and decorations to set up in the homes for when they move in.”

Christmas might look very different across most Scottish households this year. Many families are scaling back their customary Christmas celebrations as they struggle to afford necessities. According to a YouGov survey, Scottish communities are amongst the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis. The survey showed that 40% more Scottish families are experiencing financial difficulties than those in England. The Leith Collective are also linked with food banks in the Glasgow area. Elaborating on this, Sara said: “We have also realised while running these campaigns that local food banks are really struggling.

“They can’t keep up with the demand, and they’re at breaking point. You also need a referral to use them, and users are limited to how many times they can use the service in a month.

“We figured everyone has a tin of something in the cupboard they won’t use or is close to a sell-by date. You can come in and swap it for something else or leave it for someone to take. That will offer a lifeline to a lot of people in the area.”

Besides being a new ethical shopping experience, the store has recently moved to a much bigger location. They are now based on the first floor of the St. Enoch Centre, at the top of the entrance escalator in the old Hamley’s unit. They hope this bigger location will allow them to host a range of events and workshops, all designed to help boost the local community. They also deliver valuable support through their mentorship programme.

All donations can be dropped off and collected at the store during opening hours. They hope that by starting and continuing these campaigns, which are easily accessible to local people, Christmas may be a little easier for those experiencing difficulties. The Leith collective wants to offer a much needed helping hand to anybody that needs it.

You can visit their website here: https://www.theleithcollective.co.uk

Opening hours for the St. Enoch store are as follows:

Monday-Friday 9am – 7pm

Saturday: 9am – 6pm

Sunday: 10am – 6pm