Charity to spread festive magic across Northern Ireland with Letter from Santa

The NSPCC’s 2011 Letter from Santa fundraising campaign is off to a magical start with help from the people of Northern Ireland!

The NSPCC’s 2011 Letter from Santa fundraising campaign is off to a magical start with help from the people of Northern Ireland.  

Each year the charity helps to spread some extra Christmas magic to local children by arranging for them to receive a personalised letter from Santa. For a suggested donation of £5 a family member or friend can nominate a child or newborn baby to receive the special letter in time for Christmas.

Last year over 192,000 letters were sent to children in the UK, raising an incredible £1.3 million for the NSPCC. This year, with the help of local people, the charity is hoping to make even more children smile by sending out more letters and raising money to support local vulnerable children through its projects and services, including ChildLine.

Caroline Weir, NSPCC fundraiser, said: “Christmas is a great time of year full of anticipation and excitement, especially for children. Parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends can make it even more magical by arranging for their child to receive a personalised letter from Santa. And by making the suggested donation of £5 you can spread the magic even further and help support the NSPCC and ChildLine.”

Over the Christmas period last year (24 December 2010 to 5 January 2011) ChildLine counsellors answered over 18,000 contacts from children and young people via telephone, email and 1-2-1 chats, 1,716 of which were dealt with by volunteers at the ChildLine bases in Belfast and Foyle. The main issues that young people contacted the service about during December were family relationship issues (14 per cent), bullying (ten per cent) and physical abuse (six per cent).

Caroline continued: “The ChildLine service is available for young people 365 days a year. Last December when lots of children were excitedly getting ready for Christmas and looking forward to the holidays, there were many others that contacted ChildLine to talk about issues ranging from family relationships, bullying and abuse.

“This is why, in ChildLine’s 25th Anniversary year, we are aiming to raise £1.6 million through Letter from Santa to help make sure we can continue to be there for all children and young people whenever and however they need us.”

To arrange for a child or newborn baby to receive a personalised letter from Santa in time for Christmas people can visit www.nspcc.org.uk/santa or telephone 0845 839 9304. Order leaflets can also be found in a range of stores including SPAR, Debenhams, Thorntons, Matalan and Rowlands Pharmacy. Orders can be received until 16 December and letters will be sent out between 28 November and 19 December.

Well rested after a long holiday, the duo will be kicking off the festive season at the Ark Open Farm’s Magical Christmas Event from December 3, before loading up their sleigh for that most magical night of the year - Christmas Eve!

Last updated 12 years ago