For every £1 we spend, 84p helps children and families.
“Santa came, he really came!"
Last Christmas, Chloe* and her mum were huddled under blankets, without heating or enough food, and presents were out of the question. Thanks to Nationwide supporters, Action for Children's team were able to give Chloe the most magical Christmas.
*This story is based on real examples of children we support.
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Support vulnerable children at Christmas.
Last winter, six-year-old football fan Chloe* spent most 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 was struggling financially and often skipped meals so Chloe could eat.
*This story is based on real examples of children we support.
Thanks to Nationwide supporters like you, we were able to step in just before Christmas with festive food and presents.
On Christmas morning, Layla watched Chloe’s excitement as she opened the football boots that she had been dreaming of all year.
Watching Chloe’s face was just the best feeling ever. The excitement, the pure joy, I will never forget it. She burst into tears and kept saying “Santa came, he really came!"
Layla
4.5 million UK children now live in poverty. That's 31% of all children.
For many children, Christmas is anything but magical. No presents or festive food.
Each year, we ask people to become a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child by making a donation. Your donation could provide a child with a hot meal or a Christmas present.
Donate today and you could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas.
Can you help us reach £1 million?
Donate to add your star to the map and join thousands of Secret Santas making a difference.
Total donations
£996551
Secret Santas
23220
Your donation could help us support vulnerable children, young people and their families in the UK.
84p 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 2024/25 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries.
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