Charity Christmas Appeal
Secret Santa charity Christmas appeal
You could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas.
“Santa came, he really came!"
*This story is based on real examples of children we support.
Last Christmas, Chloe* and her mum were huddled under blankets, without heating or enough food, and presents were out of the question.
With your support for our Christmas appeal, Action for Children's team were able to give Chloe the most magical Christmas.
Buy a charity Christmas gift
Your virtual gift could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas
Make a donation
You could help vulnerable children in need at Christmas
Send a Christmas eCard
Treat your loved ones to Christmas eCards that give back.
*This story is based on real examples of children we support.
Six-year-old Chloe* loved playing football and wished for boots for Christmas. Her mum Layla*, was struggling financially and often skipped meals so Chloe could eat.
One evening, Chloe told her mum she had changed her letter to Santa. She no longer wanted presents, and had asked for a Christmas dinner instead. Layla was heartbroken.
Action for Children stepped in just before Christmas with festive food and presents, including the football boots Chloe had dreamed of.
"She couldn’t get the boots on quick enough. She was so obsessed she didn't want to take them off at bedtime, so she went to sleep in her pyjamas and her boots!" Layla told us.
The difference you could make...
Bertie's story
"Bertie doesn’t understand the concept of Christmas yet but he loves it. When we gave him his presents his face lit up. He had this big smile like he knew what was inside. It’s the best thing ever seeing him like that."
Jess' story
“Action for Children made our Christmas magical. I’d also just come out of hospital so to receive all those gifts and food vouchers was extra special, and Jess was over the moon about her ice cream maker.”
James' story
“The energy vouchers made a huge difference as we were able to warm the house up and I didn’t have to worry about the kids waking up saying that they’re cold.”
Thomas' story
“I could never have saved up enough money for our family to go on such a special Santa trip. It created such a precious memory for all our children at what was a tough time. It was so magical and the children still talk about it now."
Each year, we ask people to be a charity Secret Santa for a vulnerable child by donating to our Christmas appeal.
Why?
Because for too many children across the UK, Christmas is anything but magical. No stockings. No presents. No festive food - often no food at all.
But you could help change that.
Donate today and you could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas.
If you would like to know more about how our charity Christmas appeal works, who it helps or how to donate, head to our frequently asked questions page.
Be a Secret Santa
Make a donation
Vulnerable children in the UK need a Secret Santa like you.
We’re lighting up the UK with Secret Santas
Every time a donation is made, a star can be added to our map
Total donations
£163
Secret Santas
9
Your virtual gift is a donation that helps us support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the UK.
85p of every £1* we spend goes directly towards helping children, young people and their families. We make sure that every penny you donate goes where it will have the greatest impact on children’s lives. Donations from this campaign will be unrestricted and used by Action for Children for its general charitable purposes. That means they’re not spent on one project or one specific area of the UK, but where the need is greatest. Some of our unrestricted funding goes towards essential management and administration costs to make sure funding can reach the children and families who are most in need of support.
*Figure based on audited 2023/24 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries.
