Bethany Christian Trust in Leith brings back its Caring Christmas Trees for 2026

Edinburgh households can do a good turn this festive season simply by choosing where their Christmas tree comes from. Bethany Christian Trust, the homelessness charity founded in Leith, has opened orders for its Caring Christmas Trees for 2026, with all proceeds going towards its work with people facing homelessness in Scotland.

The trees are Nordmann firs, with sizes starting from 4ft and prices from £47.50. The charity describes them as sustainable and locally sourced, grown responsibly in the Pentland Hills and wrapped in compostable netting, so customers can feel good about the planet as well as the cause.

Trees can be pre-ordered online, with collection sites in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Glasgow and Fife. Home delivery is also available to selected Edinburgh and Glasgow postcodes for an additional £30.

The money raised helps to fund services such as community drop-ins, recovery programmes, Care Vans offering food and hot drinks, and support for people moving into a permanent home.

Regular customers are clearly fans. One said: "Beautiful trees with very little needle drop and a lovely cheery festive experience picking up." Another, who has ordered for several years, enjoyed collecting in Stockbridge alongside the Christmas Market, adding: "It really gets you in the Christmas spirit, to have a hot chocolate and to buy several things from local vendors."

That market returns to St Stephen's Comely Bank Church on Friday 4 December, from 4pm to 7pm, and Saturday 5 December, from 10am to 2pm. Visitors can expect local art and craft stalls, live music and light refreshments.

Bethany's story began close to home. In 1983 Alan Berry was leading South Leith Baptist Church, where he regularly met people who were homeless and looking for help, and he realised the need for a lasting solution beyond handouts at the door. Together with his wife Anne, and with the support of the wider church, he founded Bethany Christian Trust to address the homelessness and poverty they saw in Leith.

It started with the Bethany Christian Centre, a residential unit offering care and support to 28 men and women without a home. From those small beginnings the charity has grown to around 200 staff and nearly 2,000 volunteers, and it still has its base on Bonnington Road.

As the charity puts it, you can enjoy decorating your home this Christmas knowing that you are helping somebody else find theirs. Trees can be ordered through the Caring Christmas Trees website.