First Bus and Leeds Kirkgate Market bring festive cheer to visitors and local community
- £500 donation to charity supporting homeless and vulnerable
- Free roller skating rink between Christmas and New Year
- Lucky winners to receive ‘First Feast of Christmas’ food hamper worth up to £100
First Bus and Leeds Kirkgate Market have teamed up to bring some festive cheer throughout December and support those less fortunate and that will be struggling this Christmas.
The bus operator has made a gift of £500 to St George’s Crypt, a Leeds charity helping homeless and vulnerable people. The money will be used to buy a range of essential items from market traders to be used at the centre in the church on Great George Street and distributed over Christmas.
Chris Fields, CEO of St George's Crypt, said: “We thank First Bus and Leeds Kirkgate Market for this kind donation. Especially now, with prices rising, increased fuel costs and Christmas coming, knowing we will be receiving essentials from the market means that we can plan on how best to support and bring festive cheer to those who use our services.
“This will go towards providing the 240 Christmas meals and presents that we expect to give out over Christmas, so a massive ‘thank you’ from everyone here at St George's Crypt.”
Young customers should be on the lookout for Father Christmas wandering around the market handing out chocolate gifts, while every customer that buys a FirstDay ticket for Leeds services on the app between 4-11 December will be entered into a prize draw to receive ‘The First Feast of Christmas’ – a food hamper containing everything you need for Christmas dinner selected from specialist fresh food and produce retailers at Leeds Kirkgate Market.
The hampers will be given to five lucky winners in the week leading up to Christmas.
A roller skating rink is set to be a big attraction during Christmas and New Year. Operated by LS-TEN it will be free to use thanks to a financial contribution by First Bus and opens on 23 December until 30 December from 11am-3pm.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education, said: “We are delighted that the partnership Leeds Kirkgate Market have with First Bus allows us to continue to provide free activities in the city centre for families over the Christmas period.
“The free roller rink, gifts from Santa and prize draw for a Christmas dinner hamper will be a welcome festive treat for shoppers in Leeds.”
Picture captions:
First Bus + Leeds Kirkgate Market 1 & 3: Cllr Pryor (left) with Kelsey Salvatore from First Bus and Tosh Wilson of the roller rink company.
First Bus + Leeds Kirkgate Market 2: Cllr Pryor (right) with Kelsey Salvatore from First Bus and Tosh Wilson of the roller rink company.
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Notes to editors
Media enquiries to Richard Harrison, PR Manager, First Bus North & West Yorkshire 07973 668116 richard.m.harrison@firstbus.co.uk
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