How you could make Christmas magical for children like Chloe*

Last winter, six-year-old football fan Chloe spent days huddled under blankets in the living room - the only room her mum Layla* could afford to heat.

Despite working as a care worker, Layla struggled to make ends meet. She even had to pawn her family's jewellery just to put food on the table for Chloe.

There were days where Layla would skip meals or settle for the scraps left behind.

With Christmas only a few weeks away, Layla had no idea how she was going to afford it.

One evening, Chloe told her mum that she'd crossed off the presents on her letter to Santa.

Instead, she'd asked for some special food to make a Christmas dinner.

Layla was heartbroken and realised that Chloe must have overheard her crying and talking about their struggles.

Layla said: "I wanted to burst into tears. She’s six-years-old and saying 'I don’t need any presents.' Like her Christmas list didn’t matter."

Thankfully, Action for Children were there to help.

The week before Christmas, Chloe and Layla's support worker turned up at their house with Christmas decorations and a festive food hamper filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, and chocolates.

She had also brought Chloe a bag of Christmas presents.

On Christmas morning, Layla watched Chloe’s excitement as she opened the living room door and saw the presents under the tree.

Layla said: “At first she couldn’t speak. She was just staring at the presents with her mouth wide open. She wasn’t sure if the presents were really for her.”

As Chloe started to unwrap the biggest box, her eyes lit up. It was the football boots that she had wanted all year.

On Boxing Day, Chloe’s mum took her to their local park to play football with her friends.

Layla said: “It was the happiest I’d seen Chloe in months. She didn't take the boots off the whole Christmas holidays.”

For Chloe it was the best Christmas ever. For Layla, it was the Christmas she never thought she could give her daughter.

The cost-of-living crisis and increased food and energy bills make the winter months particularly difficult for families like Layla and Chloe.

But thanks to the incredible generosity of our Secret Santas, we can continue to be there for them when no one else is.

We’re there when families can’t afford the basics. We top up the gas meter when children are shivering in a freezing house. Put food on the table so children don’t go hungry. Buy a Christmas present when a parent can’t.

We’re a vital lifeline for desperate families with nowhere to turn. And children across the UK need a Secret Santa like you.