What's Happening in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England…

A Christmas card outlet near Lutterworth has recently celebrated being in business for half a century.

The Rugby Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop has raised thousands of pounds through the decades. A variety of good causes have gained from the operation, which is located at St Andrew’s Church. Mark Pawsey MP has recognised the achievements of the shop. Corporate Christmas cards from Lutterworth may be used to promote social enterprises.

The shop was founded by two schoolmasters. The teachers supervised senior boy pupils at the Lawrence Sheriff School. In the initial year of the experiment in 1967, an impressive total of £400 was raised for charity.

The next year saw the enterprise rebranded. It was renamed the Lawrence Sheriff School Christmas Card Shop and significantly more money was collected than the previous year.

In the 1970s, it acquired its current name. The shop was managed by local women, with takings surpassing the £1,000 per annum mark. The organisation still operated from a garage showroom until it was relocated to the church in 1989.

Volunteers manage the organisation now and Christmas cards are not the only item up for sale. The business has diversified and diaries, candles and wrapping paper are made available to the public. In 2016, approximately £16,500 was raised and the hope is that a higher total can be accumulated before the middle of December.