As thoughts turn to Christmas shopping, the Head of Christian Aid Scotland has urged consumers to consider giving meaningful ethical festive gifts, which could have a double impact.

Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland said: “This Christmas, rather than giving unwanted, unneeded and probably unused gifts, we’re inviting people in Scotland to consider buying an ethical gift instead. Present Aid gifts keep giving long after the wrapping’s discarded and the tree comes down and you’ve finished off the week-old leftovers. The proceeds make a real difference to people around the world.”

Christian Aid’s Present Aid initiative has raised more than £17m towards work with poor communities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America since it was launched in 2005.

She added: “All proceeds raised from the sale of our Present Aid gifts will support our ‘Enough for Everyone’ Christmas appeal, which this year is also being matched pound for pound by the UK Government.”