Gifted Local, the online home for local London businesses has started a school scheme across Haringey, to raise much-needed funds this Christmas. For every purchase made by parents from each participating school, Gifted Local will donate 10% back to that school.
Recent research by charity Parentkind shows schools have lost as much as £42 million in fundraising this year because of the pandemic. This is largely due to the cancellation of school events, including the highly anticipated School Fairs.
Gifted Local, which connects local independent businesses with customers who want to shop local, has thousands of gifts available, all made by independent sellers. To recreate the Christmas Fair magic, Gifted Local is offering a mulled wine recipe to get you in the mood, a Christmas songs playlist, cut out and colour decorations to keep kids entertained while parents shop as well as a competition to win a £250 hamper.
Anne-Louise Craven, the Chairperson for St Aidan’s VC Primary School’s PTA in Stroud Green, said: ‘Schools across the capital have lost out on thousands of pounds in fundraising this year because of Covid. We decided to partner with Gifted Local because it not only raises money for the school but also creates a bit of that Christmas Fair magic that we’re all missing this year. Being able to support local businesses through this initiative is an added bonus!’
Gifted Local was set up by mum of three Helen Robinson, who often shopped online with the big internet giants but wanted to support local businesses and to spend her money where it mattered. Gifted Local was a lightbulb moment because it was the opportunity to offer the best of both worlds: an online marketplace that gives people the feel-good factor of buying locally online. Her life-long friend Florence Eavis joined shortly afterwards and the business has gone from strength to strength, reporting a 140% increase in sales from Q1 to Q3 and nearly 100 sellers on board.
