Thank you for agreeing to support our Christmas Tree Recycling event as a Volunteer and for giving up your time to support Pilgrims Hospices. Last year, more than £78,500 was raised through Christmas Tree collections across east Kent.
The essential information is listed below to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable experience and to help Pilgrims raise money for the next family that need our clinical care. Supporter, volunteer and staff safety is our highest priority and we hope that you understand that these measures have been instated to enable a safe event to take place.
As part of our approach, we also need to ensure you understand the specific requirements of volunteering at this time, so we would ask you to read the following very carefully.
This online form will feature two parts:
1. The specific event details, which is your Volunteer Information Pack with instructions and safety information.
2. Volunteer T&Cs relating to your participation in the event.
Safety Briefing
Your safety is our main priority, below are some points for you to be aware of to make the event as safe as possible.
Collections will take place over four days (Friday to Monday) to reduce time pressure. The biggest routes will be completed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with any smaller routes or trees we’re unable to find to be picked up in the subsequent days by staff.
In advance of the event you will be given pre-assigned route(s) for you and your crew via an online link, you will also be given the following:
Each vehicle will be issued with full PPE and safety kit. Your safety kit includes a high visibility vest, gloves and a first-aid kit (goggles also avaliable if you wish). Plus, missed tree slips, posters for vehicle windows and donation envelopes. Additionaly, paper copies of your routes, a clip-board and pens will also be given.
The safety of yourself and others is our main priority and certain procedures need to be followed to comply with our insurance.
Safety Notes
1. Familiarise yourself with your vehicle. Please drive and park safely whilst in transit and on the routes. All crews are reminded to follow safety procedures at all times, including driving regulations and the drivers are not to use handheld mobile phones when driving. Ideally, crew mates should be navigating throughout and using the technology. Please take care driving into and around the Hospice.
2. Wear the hi-vis vests and gloves provided at all times when handling trees. Goggles are provided if needed.
3. Please wear sensible clothing and footwear for the weather and time of year; bearing in mind it could be wind, rain, snow or sunshine. No open-toed or heeled shoes.
4. First aid kits will be provided, one per crew. In the event of an injury, accident, theft, emergency or other concerns please contact the emergency services, if needed, and then inform Karen Kenward (Event Manager) on 07738 851355 & Ellie Cane (Routing) on 07857 601819.
5. Safe storage of personal items and valuables is not available.
6. Please do not leave vans unlocked while unattended.
7. Please follow all venue fire safety procedures as instructed when at the hospice. Staff members will be on-hand to direct you.
8. In the event of an incident either on foot or in a vehicle (either your own or Pilgrims vehicle) please complete the incident form provided (in your vehicle crew pack). Please collect as much information on the form as possible. Please collect witness details and take photos of the issue/area and as many as possible and from different angles. Please inform Karen Kenward as soon as possible.
When loading and unloading Christmas trees, please follow these instructions at all times.
1. Use safe pavements and walkways.
2. Only collect during daylight hours.
3. Park as close to the tree as is safely possible. You may need to safely park and walk a short distance to the household, especially on busy residential streets.
4. Take special care when opening vehicle doors, entering and exiting vehicles.
5. Think before lifting. Assess the load and reduce it if necessary by asking your fellow crew member for help.
6. Do not lift trees if you are not comfortably able to do so.
7. Adopt a stable position and make sure your feet are apart and placed safely, with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance.
8. Bend at the knee and look after your back. A slight bend to back, hips and knees is advised rather than fully flexing. Avoid twisting or leaning sideways. Keep your head up and move smoothly.
9. Get a good hold and keep the load close to your waist with the heaviest part closest to your body.
10. Do not lift or lower whilst standing on uneven or unduly slippery surfaces.
11. Do not collect trees if it's unsafe to do so. Supporters have been asked to leave trees in a safe and visible place. Do not enter houses or back gardens.
12. For more information regarding manual handling, please visit www.hse.gov.uk
Trees over 8ft tall, trees in pots, decorations and general garden waste are not to be collected. Supporters have been made aware of this. Owners of trees over 8ft tall or 4ft wide have been asked to cut them into smaller half or reasinably-sized pieces. A maximum of 2 trees can be collected per household. If you collect extra trees, you may not be able to fit your full round on the vehicle as routes are planned based on the number of tree we are told. Please do not use saws or chainsaws under any circumstances.
Event Instructions
Please begin your collections from 8:00am on either Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th or Monday 12th January 2026, all supporters have been asked to leave trees out by this time. Monday will be a mop-up day for trees we couldn’t find/reach/get to (where possible).
The routes will officially start at 7:30am and finish at 4pm (daylight hours only - please make sure you can complete your round and drop off the trees before 4:30pm).
We know you will be courteous to our supporters and members of the general public. Should any queries arise, please contact Karen (Event Manager) on 07738 851355 or Ellie (Routing) on 07857 601819.
- You will be sent a text with an online link with your routes. You will be given guidance on how to use this. This online link will link to map software to navigate and guide you to the next tree. Please ensure you are using this handsfree or ask your crew mate to direct you. Tip: during rounds when beginning to collect subsequent trees, check which direction your vehicle is facing. The tree may simply be over the road or on a corner. However, the software will direct you to drive to the tree, which may mean a short drive round the block, even when the tree is on the other side of the road. Round sheets are self-explanatory - please call us if you have questions.
- Please make sure you do use the online link when you have collected (or missed a tree) – this is a live link and the base team can live track and see how your collections are going.
- Please do call supporters if you can't find the tree. Write any notes in the online link or on the round sheets. The information you give us is vital in following up should a tree not be found. Pilgrims do not expect you to be collecting cash donations on the day, but if someone does want to give a small cash donation, please mark it on the round sheet and add the donation with the donors details into the donation envelopes provided.
After your rounds/end of day
- Round sheets must be returned to the hospice (along with any kit provided) when they are completed (or at the end of the day). Please plan your afternoon collections accordingly - please don't do the big rounds last, as you may not finish them before darkness. The details you add to the round sheets help with any missed trees or supporter enquiries over the next few days.
- Please delete the text link for the app after your day of collections. Please do not use the data for any other reason than participation in the event collections. The entire participant data will be deleted immediately after the collections.
- Please help us by taking action shots and staged photos, but please bear in mind your safety and also that you are wearing PPE & a hi-vis vest at all times.
All trees must be disposed of at: Pilgrims Hospices Thanet.
Please do not accept additional trees. The routes have been planned based on number per household, approximate size and if you accept extras – you may not fit your entire round in your van.
Potential cancellation due to national/local restrictions or inclement weather
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until safe to do so. If this is the case, you will be informed by 7am on 7th, 8th, 9th January.
Driver insurance declaration
All drivers of Pilgrims vehicles are required to sign a declaration form to confirm that they have a full and valid UK driving licence and undergo a driving licence check, which will be carried out by Pilgrims staff. Please note: if you completed this last year, you do not need to complete it again.
All drivers bringing their own vehicle, by completing this form, you confirm that you have a suitable vehicle to transport trees (if using own/company vehicle) and adequate insurance which covers you for this activity. If you are in a Pilgrims' hire vehicle, you will be advised of any processes, requirements or forms to complete.
Phone number for queries and emergencies:
Event Manager: Karen: 07738 851355
Crew & Routing: Ellie: 07857 601819
Emergency Services: 999
Useful addresses:
- Base & Drop off: Pilgrims Hospices, Ramsgate Road, Margate, CT9 4AD
- Nearest A&E: QEQM, Ramsgate Road, CT9 4AN (next to the hospice)
Volunteer Support Declaration
- You must feedback any incidents, concerns or anxieties to your line manager or a member of staff as soon as you become aware of them.
- You agree to this activity of volunteering for and on behalf of Pilgrims Hospices as part of this fundraising activity. You have the right to withdraw your volunteering commitment at any time.
If you know of any medical condition that you suffer from which might affect or prevent your volunteering in this event, or results in harm to yourself or others, you must please make Pilgrims Hospices aware of this prior to the event.
Your details
Contact details
Must be checked regularly (this is the most effective way for us to communicate with you)
This must be the mobile number that you will have on you on the day. Please ensure that your number is provided including a space as per the following format: 00000 000000