Annan Christmas Lights Committee are a small group of local volunteers who organise, maintain, and fundraise to provide the Christmas Lights in Annan each year. A switch-on event is also arranged and children can get to visit Santa and receive a small free gift

Those involved have been doing so for the last 9 years. As with all such ventures, volunteers come and go, and we are always on the lookout to add to our numbers. We do however, all share the same passion. That passion is to ensure that Annan has Christmas Lights to be proud of.

Over the last few years, we have aimed to raise additional funds for maintenance and renewals of at least £3500 pa. Funds are gained through a mixture of donations from local people, businesses, and proceeds from fundraising events.

As most will be aware, a large part of the cost to erect the lights is covered by a grant from D&G Council each year. This grant is divided between the 5 towns in the area and is dependent on population size. Anything over and above the allocated grant amount must come from our own funds. There is no funding for the purchasing of lights themselves. All lights are paid for and maintained by our fundraising activities.

Event fundraising during the current economic crisis has been difficult this year. As always, support has been ongoing from a number of local businesses, but these are also feeling the pinch as a result of the present situation.

As a group we have reviewed the condition of the lights and unfortunately there are some which will require to be replaced. The total cost of purchasing replacement lights and additional works to maintain the remaining lights is in excess of £4000 this year

Given the economic situation and the negative effect on businesses and personal budgets, we as a committee have decided not to actively canvass for donations as we have done in previous years, but to seek to raise a lesser amount of money, something in the region of £1000. This lesser amount does mean that we will be unable to meet all of our outgoings from existing funding streams. As a consequence, and to ensure that we can continue to provide Christmas Lights in Annan we would very respectfully ask individuals and businesses for donations to help us meet some of the shortfall. Let’s make Annan shine at Christmas, this year and onwards. All donations, no matter how small will be gratefully accepted.