For the 23rd year in succession, Palmers Green United Reformed Church will play host to a multi-charity Christmas card shop. And the shop's manager is on the lookout for a suitable photograph of a local scene to make into a Christmas card.
The Cards for Good Causes shop launches this Saturday (29th October) and will be open between 10am and 4pm every day except Sundays until 10th December. At 10.30am on 29th October there will be a grand opening ceremony by the Reverend Ray Adams - the last time he will be performing this, as he will be retiring in January 2017.
Up to eight different card designs are available from each of the individual charities. Next year the shop is planning to issue its own locally themed card, the proceeds from which would be divided between all the good causes. Shop manager Diana Goforth is already looking for a suitable photograph.
Diana explains: "Do you have a photograph, preferably with snow, but something wintry, instantly recognisable as being of the local area, ie Palmers Green, Southgate or Winchmore Hill, which you feel would be suitable to use as a charity Christmas card in 2017 (to be reproduced some 2,000 times and sold for charity)? If so, please either send it by email to or bring it, in an envelope addressed to D Goforth giving your name and telephone number, to our shop at Palmers Green United Reformed Church during shop opening hours (10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday).
"As well as Christmas cards, we stock Advent calendars, well-priced stocking-fillers and festive decorations and a great selection of wrapping paper, gift bags and gift tags."
The shop is staffed by local volunteers offering a warm welcome and refreshments.
Cards for Good Causes (CFGC) sells charity Christmas cards across the UK every year - in some 300 outlets - offering a choice of beautiful and well-priced cards from 28 national charities.
From the sale of their cards, the participating charities (or their trading subsidiaries) derive at least 70p in every pound, less the VAT payable on the amount retained by CFGC which covers CFGC's costs of running the temporary charity Christmas card shops.
By contrast, if you purchase charity cards from a well-known High Street name, the chances are that most of the money you spend will go to the retailer, not to the charity. Very few shops pass on more than 25 per cent of the selling price to the named charity, and the average figure is actually closer to 10 per cent.
