Scottish politicians gathered at Holyrood this week to show support for Caring Christmas Trees (CCT), a unique social enterprise which has been running for 16 years and supports the work of homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust.

Sustainably grown in Scotland, shoppers can buy a Grade One Nordman fir tree from Bethany instead of their local retailer, and 100% of the proceeds will directly support the charity’s Care Shelter and other winter projects.

Bethany’s Winter Care Shelter provides a hot meal and a safe place to sleep for those with nowhere to go during the coldest months of the year. The trees, which are available in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife at various pickup locations in December, are also available for delivery at the end of November in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Commenting on this year’s CCT programme, Kevin Downie, CCT Coordinator at Bethany Christian Trust, said: “I am delighted to see Bethany’s Caring Christmas Trees project back on this year. For the past 16 years, we have been giving folk across Scotland the chance to make a purchase with purpose. Of course you could buy your tree elsewhere; but with Caring Christmas Trees you not only get a beautiful sustainably-sourced tree; you get to make a difference in someone’s life who is homeless and on the streets in need of shelter.”