Local community art fundraiser, Baubles 4 Beds has taken over the Christmas trees along the Royal Exchange Arcade in a bid to raise awareness and much needed funds for four Manchester homeless charities over this festive season.
Baubles 4 Beds works with local schools, communities, businesses and charities across Greater Manchester, bringing them together with a fun and engaging art project to create Christmas tree decorations which help convey the fund-raiser’s important message, whilst raising funds for Manchester’s homeless. This year the organisers vowed to expand their platform by approaching more Manchester businesses to become involved, one of which was The Royal Exchange.
Usually, the olive trees that line the Royal Exchange Arcade are replaced by lavishly decorated Christmas trees adorned by deluxe baubles and ornaments for the festive period. Baubles 4 Beds founder and organiser, Frank Dowd approached The Royal Exchange after he spotted these last Christmas and the management team were more than happy to accommodate Frank’s request of allowing the trees to be decorated by the schools and communities, to help support the cause and spread the word this year.
All fourteen of the five-foot Christmas trees are decked with beautiful and creative handmade baubles made by the local school children and community groups, which they hope will be enjoyed by many people as they visit Manchester. There is also a chance to donate to the cause by scanning the QR code on the trees, for anyone in a position to do so.
The four local charities who will benefit from the fund-raising are: Coffee4Craig, Barnabus Manchester, AKT Manchester and the Mustard Tree. All monies raised will be shared equally amongst them at the end of the campaign.
