Secret Santa
Be a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child
Support vulnerable children by making a donation and being a charity Secret Santa
What is a charity Secret Santa?
Each year, we ask people to be a charity Secret Santa for a vulnerable child with Action for Children by donating directly to our appeal.
Because for vulnerable children across the UK, Christmas is anything but magical. No stockings. No presents. No festive food - maybe no food at all.
But your gift could change this. You could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas.
Being a Secret Santa means you could buy a child the essentials of warm clothes, a hot meal, or a special present just for them.
We know the magic of Christmas begins in childhood. And with your help, we could give more children the Christmas they deserve this year.
Purchase a virtual gift
With a virtual gift, you could give a vulnerable child warm winter clothes, a hot meal, or a trip to visit Santa, you could help put the magic back into Christmas.
Buy a gift for your friends or family
Buy a charity Christmas gift on behalf of a loved one and help support a vulnerable child. Dedicate your gifts by adding a personalised certificate for your friends or family
Make a donation
Be a Secret Santa by donating to our appeal. You could give a vulnerable child their own bed and a warm duvet, a hot meal, or a Christmas present.
Shop your Christmas cards
Spread the festive cheer with an Action for Children Christmas card. Your purchase could help put the magic back into a child’s Christmas
Our Secret Santas make a difference...
Matthew
“Many of our young carers, without our annual trip, wouldn’t get to experience the panto buzz due to either the complex needs of loved ones or financial hardship. Hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles, makes a special outing in our calendar.”
Chloe
“Last year we were given a mattress and a cot for Alex – before he was just sleeping in a travel cot. This extra bit of support really helps us manage our finances better, and to not worry so much about how we’re going to pay our bills.”
Rachel
“I had to walk to work every morning, and I was getting soaked because I didn’t have waterproofs. Action for Children got me a waterproof coat and shoes, which was so helpful for me.”
Rebecca
With rising cost of living, Rachel couldn’t fully furnish their new home, and was making sacrifices in other areas. Our support meant she could focus on keeping the house warm and care for her family during the more difficult winter months.
By becoming a Secret Santa you can help bring happiness, warmth, and safety to vulnerable children. At Action for Children, we see children who are struggling every day. Children without a bed sleeping on the floor with just blankets. Families phoning us crying because they have no money for food. But we also see the difference you can make.
Each year, we ask you to become a Secret Santa and thousands of you do. Our 2022 Secret Santas helped us reach 671,275 families last year. With your generosity, we could do the same this year.
You can make a difference, this Christmas and beyond.
Your virtual charity '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. (figure based on audited 2022/23 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries). 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.
