Marks and Spencer partner with Shelter to highlight homelessness at Christmas
By Holly Freeman on Friday, November 24, 2017
High street retail giant Marks and Spencer has continued its partnership with housing and homeless charity Shelter, by giving commuters at Waterloo a taste of their Festive collection, a pop-up Christmas themed dining room and virtual reality experience.
Diners will be immersed in three very different Christmas days, with a VR experience of real people, set in real houses, talking about how they will spend their Christmas. The first two videos are very positive and are full of happy families, opening presents and enjoying large dinners. However, the third is very different, showing a homeless family crammed into one room of a hostel – not even having room for a tree, the video highlights that all this family wants for Christmas is a home.
Shelter documented the whole day, posting on images and videos of the pop up on twitter as well as clips related to the charity’s campaign. Marks and Spencer’s also shared these and in partnership with the charity have made a Christmas collection, with 5% of each sales going towards the charity.
I think it’s a lovely campaign and pop up, spreading awareness of the charity in an interactive way – which always grabs the public’s attention! The VR experience is a great way to physically show people how ‘the other half’ live and by virtually putting them into these families’ situations, will enforce their message on homelessness.
So far, it has only picked up coverage on Campaign, however hopefully they will keep spreading awareness of the charity, with sales of the Christmas collection in stores.