Posted on: 13th October 2026

Real Advent Calendars are available in Leeds.

Staff at the Leeds City Mission (LCM) Christian Book & Card Booth in Armley have acquired a quantity of ‘Real Advent Calendars’.  This unique calendar is packed with delicious Fairtrade chocolate, a 24-page Christmas story activity book, and a warm helping of goodwill. 

The City Mission is repeating its ‘Real Advent Calendars’ project which proved to be an outstanding success last year.  They are making them available to the Christian public in Leeds over the next six weeks to enable low key evangelism with families and children.

The Real Advent Calendar is unique.  It is produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company and is the only ethical Advent Calendar in the UK.  It is maufactured with Fairtrade chocolate.  There is a line from the Christmas story with a high-quality colour picture behind every window, meaning children can learn more and more each day about the birth of Jesus as they enjoy the chocolates. 

The ‘Fairtrade Mark’ guarantees a fair price for cocoa producers in West Africa enabling them to make a living as they sell their crops to chocolate manufacturers.

LCM Coordinator Andy Dalton explained that we live in an era where many children are unfamiliar with basic bible stories and even the details of Jesus nativity.   The Real Advent Calendar comes with a 24 page booklet explaining with vivid illustrations the narrative of the christmas story. 

Each calendar isn’t just a treat – it’s also a gift that gives back. A donation from every sale supports the Funzi and Bodo Trust, a small Leeds-based charity which helps to provide vital maternity and medical care for mothers and babies in two remote Kenyan mud-hut villages. 

The City Mission believes the calendars are an excellent outreach tool to use with families and children.  With the assistance of bulk buying and cross – subsidies, they have slashed the price by one quarter from £5.95 to £4.50.  Thus they are affordable for families. 

And that’s not all!

The Christian Book & Card Booth located in the City Mission Compassion Centre in Mistress Lane, Armley has also upcycled thousands of christmas gift tags from used greetings cards.    These are being offered for free to people calling at the Mission to obtain their Real Advent Calendars or to access some of the other projects and services run from its premises.

Coordinator Andy Dalton concluded “This is a traditional Advent Calendar with a difference and which makes a difference for christmas.  One of the key roles of the Leeds City Mission Christian Book & Card Booth is to provide the means for literature evangelism.  These Real Advent Calendars are a natural opportunity to use as a gift in outreach to families.”

Every part of the calendar box is recyclable making it environmentally responsible as well.

Leeds City Mission is a multi-church Christian agency and has been committed to gospel outreach in word and deed continuously since 1837.  Its projects include a foodbank, charity shop, clothing store, homeless shower, hygiene shelf, street evangelism, support for smaller churches, prison and nursing home chaplaincy and other projects.  It also runs the Christian Book & Card Booth from its premises in Mistress Lane supplying bibles, books and greetings cards to the Christian public in Leeds.

The Christian Book & Card Booth at Leeds City Mission, Mistress Lane, Armley, Leeds, LS12 2LJ is open Monday – Friday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm.  Telephone 0113 345 3118 for details

Accompanying photographs show Leeds City Mission Coordinator Andy Dalton with some of the Real Advent Calendars.  Also the Leeds City Mission premises in Mistress Lane, Armley.