Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) has kicked off the Christmas season in style with a dazzling Window Display competition that brought creativity and community spirit to high streets across the UK. Teams from SATCoL charity shops and donation centres transformed their windows into festive masterpieces, spreading cheer and showcasing sustainability.
An internal competition invited SATCoL colleagues to vote on the most eye-catching displays. This year, one entry stole the spotlight – Santa’s Grotto – created by the team at Lichfield Donation Centre. Their creative display captured hearts in the community and among colleagues, earning them the top spot in the nationwide competition.
Based on internal votes from SATCoL employees and volunteers, four regional winners were announced: Lichfield, Falkirk, Leicester, and Cardiff donation centres, with Lichfield taking home the overall win. The winning grotto featured handcrafted decorations and wood donated by a local timber yard.
Donation Centre Manager Diane Sedgeley shared: “The customers have absolutely loved it! We’ve had people say they can’t help but look at it as they walk past. The children have also loved it, which is just lovely.”
Diane also praised volunteer Heather, who helped design the display: “She’s an absolutely amazing lady and is already preparing for next year!”
The grotto was cleverly designed to be collapsible, making it easy to store and reuse: “It’s definitely making a return!” Diane added.
