Many people will have received a Christmas gift that either didn’t fit, wasn’t to their taste or simply won’t ever be used. The good news is that the unloved pressies of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre can be put to very good use by Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice.

People can take unwanted or duplicated gifts to any of our 14 local shops, where they will be very gratefully received and will be re-sold to raise funds for the Hospice.

Lisa Martin, Community Fundraiser said: “With the Blackpool Gazette’s help, we have had a ‘Presents of Mind’ appeal for the past few years and it is always well supported. It’s such a shame to simply put unwanted gifts away in a cupboard and forget all about them when we can turn them into much needed funds.

“People can drop off unwanted gifts at any of our shops or at our reception area at the hospice in Bispham. A gift that you don’t want can be exactly what someone else is looking for.  Books, toys, toiletries, scarves, handbags, DvDs and computer games will all find a very good new home with us.”

Trinity’s shops are a vital part of the Hospice’s annual fundraising efforts. Trinity and Brian House Children’s Hospice cost £7 million a year to run, but receive less than half of that from central sources and rely on support from the community.

Lisa added: “People are very generous and often drop off unwanted gifts for us to use as raffle prizes or for us to sell in our shops, and at this time of year many of us have something in need of a good home. 

“Over the years Presents of Mind has been a really effective way of spreading the word that we can put these gifts to very good use and help ensure that local adults and children with life limiting illness continue to receive the excellent care they deserve.”