Uncertainty surrounds Wigan couple's popular festive fund-raiser due to Covid-19 pandemic

Janice and Justin Hinden, from Poolstock, work year-round to make festive decorations and sell them every weekend in the run-up to Christmas on stalls at supermarkets and in Wigan town centre.

Last year they raised more than £7,000, which was used to buy food, children’s toys and other essential items for people supported by The Storehouse Project in Billinge and Wigan Council’s social services department.

Once again the pair have made a large number of Christmas decorations, after scouring the internet for new ideas to satisfy their loyal customers.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, they do not yet know if they will be able to sell their goods on stalls as usual.

They have contacted Wigan Council and the supermarkets where they are usually based and are waiting to find out if they can trade.

Justin, 50, said: “We are eager to get out doing our stalls, but whether we will be able to do it, we don’t know.”

The couple have worked hard to produce their decorations again, with Justin able to dedicate more time to the crafts when he was furloughed from his job on the canals earlier this year.

Janice, 53, has also been focused on making the items as she continues to recover from being seriously ill last year. She was diagnosed with a very rare strain of pneumonia, as well as sepsis.

Purchases are already being made through their Facebook page and they have even been busy making more large wooden reindeer, after their entire stock was bought by one customer.

Ever-popular items are among their collection, such as log snowmen and reindeer, but they also try to make different things each time.

Justin said: “We have lots of new items this year. We don’t like to make the same things because people will have them already.

“We decided this year that we wouldn’t make any traditional ring wreaths and we have made skis instead. It’s like two skis that have been crisscrossed and foliage around them.”

The couple are looking at other ways of selling their items, such as an advertising campaign on Fcebook, but are keeping their fingers crossed they will be able to hold their stalls.

Justin said: “We are worried that if we don’t sell what we can, we are not going to be able to help the charities at all, because we won’t raise any funds to get the toys and the food. We had a phenomenal amount last year.”

To find out more about the decorations on offer, search for A Christmas Wish - Wigan on Facebook.