Dunelm has launched a new Christmas Tree Tag Community Service at stores all across the UK with the aim of “delivering joy” this festive season.
The community group-ran campaign sees branches of the high street homeware chain install Christmas trees decorated with gift tags which feature details of some of the local community’s most vulnerable and lonely people in care homes, primary schools and refuges.
Shoppers can then take a gift tag, purchase a gift / make a shoebox for that person, and help “deliver joy”.
People up and down the country have been taking to social media to spread the word of the campaign and encourage others to head to their local Dunelm store in support of the worthy cause.
The campaign is already running at a number of local stores and will continue in the lead up to Christmas
Apparently @DunelmUK stores have a Christmas tree with tags on showing the names of all the people in care homes who have no one and an indication of what they would like for Christmas. You take a tag, buy the item and hand it over at the checkout. ❤️🌲
If you pass a Dunelm in the next few weeks please go in and grab a card off the tree. A group of care home residents have wrote what they like in the hope to receive a gift this Christmas. A simple £5 gift can make someone’s Christmas 🥺💗 pic.twitter.com/aU2y6ferHh
Although the concept of taking tags off a tree can be found at Dunelm stores nationwide, ways to “deliver joy this Christmas” appear to be differing from branch to branch.
Annalise Baker – Staff Member at Dunelm UK – said in a local community group: “This year we are doing a campaign called ‘delivering joy’. We have teamed up with local schools and care homes and others to deliver some joy to the vulnerable people who may not see anyone over Christmas or receive much.
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“We are asking local people to pop into store and take a tag off our tree and fill a shoe box with some gifts.
Dunelm UK / IYA
She continued: “We can’t wait to help spread some joy this Christmas and to help the community. As a business we thought in a time where there is so much uncertainty and worry for people and their families, we thought this was a great way to bring people together in our community’s to help each other out.
“We think it’s so important to make sure that everyone has something to look forward to and make them smile over the Christmas period, especially the vulnerable members of the community that may don’t get chance to see a loved one over the next few months due to COVID-19.”
Apparently every Dunelm store has a Christmas tree with tags on showing the names of all the people in care homes who have no one and an indication of what they would like for Christmas. You take a tag, buy the item and hand it over at the checkout.
Abbie Higham – Community Champion for Dunelm – added: “We’re asking our community group to come into stores and donate gifts for the person they’ve chosen on the label and the idea is just to support our local community.
“It’s going to be a hard Christmas for people if they’re struggling so we want to make sure they’re going to get a gift this year, at least something.”
“We’d like to reach as many people as possible.”
Shoppers keen to take part in the campaign are are encouraged to check how their local Dunelm store is planning to “deliver joy” this year, so if you are planning on heading down to your nearest branch, its advisable to check the opening times ahead of your visit.
The simple hack that can save healthcare workers and teachers money on their holidays
Danny Jones
With cost-of-living pressure ever-present in the background of most everyday lives, finding some spare pennies for a getaway feels more difficult than ever, and if there’s anyone who deserves discounts on a holiday, it’s healthcare workers.
That’s why, when we became aware of the simple hack that can save those working in healthcare services money on holidays, we thought we’d help spread the word.
We’re sure lots of you working within the sector already know plenty about this booking strategy, but for anyone who doesn’t, how do you fancy saving up to half a grand on your next jolly?
In fact, even those working in education can cut their costs, too.
With searches for ‘holiday voucher code’ up by 73% on Google, and even the likes of TikTok seeing ‘money saving tips’ up by 45%, travel agency TUI have decided to team up with the Health Service Discounts platform for 2026.
Providing those who work for the NHS with a ‘Holidays for Heroes’ (HfH) access code on various popular peak-season trips, this exclusive discount can be added on top of all other seasonal TUI deals, including the company’s ‘First Choice’ package holidays.
With the HfH code alone guaranteeing workers an extra £100 off their bookings, play your cards right, and you could get up to £500 in total discounts overall.
How to access the healthcare ‘Holidays for Heroes’ deal
Separate from standard Blue Light card savings, here’s how it works, and don’t worry, it’s all very simple:
As mentioned, education workers can also benefit from similar money off, with an extra £50 per person through the TUI x Discounts for Teachers partnership, as well.
Ella Foden-Lynch, Partnerships Manager for TUI, said in a statement: “Getting away is absolutely vital for wellbeing, especially for those working in high-stress healthcare and education roles.
“With the cost-of-living crisis still putting a strain on household budgets, we know how hard it is to stretch your pay to cover a much-needed family break. By unlocking these exclusive TUI deals, we hope to give our key workers the realistic recovery time they deserve without the financial worry.”
So, for those of you healthcare heroes and teachers looking for a well-deserved break, we urge you to find an affordable holiday that suits you very soon. With cheaper airport pints also inbound later this year, here’s hoping you save even more spends for when you’re away.
The new James Bond game is full of Easter eggs – including a nod to Manchester United
Danny Jones
Even if you’re not a big gamer, you may have seen that a rather popular new James Bond game recently dropped: 007 First Light – and if you’ve played it yourself, you will have no doubt come across many Easter eggs and references throughout, including one to Manchester United.
As we happen to be currently playing it for ourselves, we’ll admit that hearing any mention of our hometown or even just quintessentially UK nods that any Brit would enjoy was likely to result in putting a grin on our faces.
That being said, apart from whenever the next FIFA—sorry, EA Sports FC drops, we weren’t expecting to hear Man United brought up in one of the biggest video games of the year.
In fact, we’re going to go out on a limb and say that nobody has this on their 2026 bingo card.
Credit: @CaptPierce93 via r/Manchester (screenshots shared to Reddit)
It may just be a slightly tongue-in-cheek throwaway line in a cutscene, but it’s still been enjoyed by many around the world.
As player ‘CaptPierce93’ writes in his caption of his Reddit post sharing the snippet: “The game has a good splash of product placements that don’t get overwhelming; an earlier portion of the game even has radio chatter of a Manchester City and Liverpool match as well.”
He’s right as well: we’ve come across lots of different little interesting nuggets and cameos during our limited playtime, and it’s safe to say we’re looking forward to seeing what else we can spot.
While any Mancunian or true, dyed-in-the-wool United fan will no doubt squirm a little at the use of ‘Man U‘ (we’re thinking like when people ‘Manny’), it’s still pretty cool nonetheless.
You can see the specific scene in full down below.
Such a surreal few seconds.
There’s something very satisfying about hearing ‘Greenway’ – played by recognisable British actor Lennie James (Snatch, The Walking Dead, Blade Runner 2049) – utter the words “Stretford End”.
And before you ask, no, he isn’t a Red: the South Londoner is a Spurs fan and is also said to have a soft spot for Valencia, as it happens.
We’re pretty sure there aren’t any other Manc references to keep your eye out for, but we’ll let you know if we stumble upon more as we continue playing the game.
There’s something about videogame Easter eggs, in-jokes and refs like these that we never tire of; you just never know what little tidbits are going to inspire someone…
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2020 
