Spreading Joy this Festive Season

Last week some of the Tangram team had the privilege of visiting the Ripple Retreat again – a haven nestled near Callander. Run by the incredible charity organisation It’s Good 2 Give, the Ripple Retreat provides solace for young cancer patients and their families, offering a much-needed escape from the challenges they face.

Stepping onto the grounds of the Ripple Retreat feels like entering a world of absolute serenity. The picturesque setting with the high mountains and still loch provides a perfect backdrop for families. It really is just so beautifully peaceful!

In our previous visit, the team got stuck into some maintenance work on the grounds at Ripple. This was hugely rewarding as we immediately saw the difference our hard work made. Our volunteer work on our most recent visit however, was much less strenuous but equally as gratifying – Wouter and Pippa were tasked with decorating the Retreat’s enormous Christmas tree.

The act of decorating a Christmas tree may seem simple, but its impact on the families at Ripple Retreat is profound. The joy that a beautifully adorned Christmas tree can bring is immeasurable, especially in a place designed to provide respite and comfort during difficult times. We were therefore honored to be asked to help with this and once again we were reminded of how wonderful the team are at It’s Good 2 Give. Lynne (co-founder of the charity) is an absolute inspiration, and it is extremely apparent how much care and dedication she and her team put into such an amazing cause!

We loved seeing all the wonderful decorations! Each had their own memory and many were gifted from a far. It was therefore lovely to be able to contribute some tree decorations too – these took the form of hand-made hanging birds as seen below.

Taking inspiration from one of our manufacturers, we used discontinued leather samples to craft these simple yet effective little birds. We also left templates and bags of leather and string so the children can have a go at making their very own decorations to hang on the tree.

A huge thank you to It’s Good 2 Give for having us again! We are so grateful for the opportunity to support this charity and contribute to the magical atmosphere of the Ripple Retreat, where families find strength, solace, and hope during their stay

To find out more about the charity and all the amazing things they do, please visit the It’s Good 2 Give website