Posted on: 7th April 2026

Staff and volunteers at Leeds City Mission (LCM) have been amazed at the demand for the Real Easter Egg in recent weeks.

An incredible total of 99 Real Easter Eggs were snapped up by visitors and supporters at the City Mission Hub and Book & Card Booth in Mistress Lane, Armley, Leeds over the Easter season.

Produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company, Real Easter Eggs are made with Fairtrade chocolate.  Also included is a 24-page illustrated book featuring the story of the first Easter.  It recounts the final week in the life of Jesus and the events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. 

The City Mission reduced the price of the eggs by 27% and sold them at cost hoping it would encourage churches and believing people to use them in their seasonal outreach endeavours. 

They were not disappointed - an additional 20 eggs had to be ordered to cope with the demand.  Members of churches in the city were amongst the visitors requesting these Real Easter Eggs having read an article on the project in the bulletin of Network Leeds in mid March.

LCM Coordinator Andy Dalton said that Leeds City Mission was constantly seeking new ways to help people and churches reach out with the gospel message.  Making the Real Easter Egg available to purchase locally in Leeds combined evangelism and ethics.  The illustrated Easter Story booklet-in-the-box enabled children to read about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  It also enabled parents to purchase the only ethical, fairtrade chocolate egg in the UK.  A percentage of the price paid is also donated to Christian charities by the Meaningful Chocolate Company.

“This project enabled 99 children and their families to read the message of Easter, enjoy good chocolate, assist poor cocoa farmers in West Africa make a living and also help christian causes in their work” said Andy Dalton from Leeds City Mission.

Since 1837 LCM has shared the good news about Jesus in word and deed throughout the city of Leeds.  From its Hub and Christian Book & Card Booth in Armley, LCM is working amongst the poor, the marginalised, the forgotten and the lost of society.  It is an interdenominational agency bringing support to local churches throughout the city helping them to become beacons of hope and light in their neighbourhoods.

Photographs accompanying this article show Leeds City Mission Coordinator Andy Dalton and colleague Claire Newton outside the LCM Hub and Christian Book & Card Booth in Mistress Lane, Armlet with the last of this year’s batch of Real Easter Eggs.  Also photograph of Leeds City Mission premises in Mistress Lane, Armley - the last public building in the shopping area.