Our Story
What started as a simple idea, helping people do good in their local communities, has grown into something much bigger.
Today, we’re behind the UK’s largest charity Christmas tree recycling initiative, bringing people together every January to raise money for charities and support the environment.
This is the Big Christmas Treecycle Appeal. And it’s at the heart of everything we do.
Where it began
Just Helping is a UK charity founded in 2012 with a mission to inspire and support people, businesses, charities, and other community organisations to contribute and volunteer in their local communities.
From the beginning, it was about making it easier for people to get involved and give back.
Founders of the Big Christmas Tree Cycle Appeal, we work with organisations across the UK to deliver the biggest charity treecycling event every January.
What started as a simple idea, recycling Christmas trees, has grown into a powerful, nationwide movement, shaped by the charities, businesses and volunteers who make it happen.
What we do
Our flagship event, the Christmas TreeCycle Appeal, brings people together at scale.
Each year, it engages thousands of volunteers and organisations, all working side by side to make a real difference.
Behind the scenes, we work with over 150 charities to deliver real Christmas tree recycling to households nationwide, helping funds reach grassroots organisations in towns and cities across the UK.
At the heart of each collection is a lead charity. We work in close partnership with them and individuals who help coordinate the event, supporting collections across local postcodes and helping them raise vital funds.
These charities play a vital role in our neighbourhoods, which is why we support them as major beneficiaries of the funds raised through the TreeCycle Appeal.
We provide the platform that makes it all possible, from registering trees and collecting donations, to planning routes so volunteers can collect trees efficiently.
At our core, we are the glue that holds it all together, creating something that is simple for the public and a powerful fundraising initiative for the charities at the heart of it.
Our impact so far
Since launching in 2012, we've helped raise over £8.9 million for charities across the UK, transforming trees into vital funds year after year.
That impact comes not just from the Christmas trees themselves, but from the generosity of the public, with thousands of people choosing to donate to their local charity when they register for their tree collection.
In January 2026, the appeal broke all previous records:
- 💚 £1.85 million raised for charities
- 💚 89,000 real Christmas trees collected and recycled
- 💚 Around 4,000 volunteers involved
Funds raised go directly to charities providing care and essential services for people and families who need them most.
Why it matters
Local charities depend on community support to keep going. At the same time, many people want to help but need a simple way to do it. TreeCycle creates that opportunity. It makes giving easy and keeps the impact close to home.
The charities we partner with are at the heart of their communities, working every day to improve lives. Their work spans the relief of poverty and the advancement of sickness and health, supporting people when they need it most. This includes, but is not limited to; hospices, children’s charities, community groups, homelessness charities, food banks, environmental organisations, and many more.
Looking ahead
The Christmas TreeCycle Appeal has grown year on year, with more volunteers and charities getting involved.
Our ambition is to take this even further, with a vision to offer Christmas tree recycling in every postcode across the UK within the next three years.
We’re continuing to grow by bringing more people into the appeal, from local charities and volunteers to corporate supporters, all working together to make TreeCycle possible in more communities across the UK.
Because the more we grow, the more we can give back, supporting local causes and turning a simple service into lasting impact.
Get involved
Whether you’re recycling your tree, volunteering your time, supporting your local collection, or partnering with us, you’re part of the story.
We work with charities and businesses across the UK to bring TreeCycle to life, and we’re always looking to grow this network.
We are also looking for community-spirited and talented individuals to join our incredible team of Trustees and support the continued growth of Just Helping.
If you have a big heart, some spare time and relevant experience, we would love to hear from you.
Please email 👉 admin@justhelping.org.uk
We are bigger, better, stronger, together.