Children’s charity launches ‘Secret Santa’ appeal to help keep families together this Christmas

ABERLOUR Children’s Charity has launched a Christmas appeal asking members of the public to be a Secret Santa for Scotland’s vulnerable children and young people and help keep families together this Christmas.

Backed by Scottish model Connor Newall, the appeal is a stress-free alternative to the ‘love it or hate it’ tradition of exchanging Secret Santa presents with a group of friends or co-workers. Thousands of festive Santa beards have been distributed across Scotland with members of the public encouraged to make a donation, don a beard and snap a selfie to join Aberlour’s Secret Santa gallery.

Scottish model Connor Newall, who launched the campaign with children at his local primary school in Govan, said:

“Christmas should be a magical time, but instead for many families, it can be one of the worst times of the year. Any donation, large or small, will make a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people across the country this Christmas. That’s why I am proud to say I’m an Aberlour Secret Santa.”

Chief Executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity, Sally-Ann Kelly told Charity Today:

“So many people across Scotland get involved in Secret Santa gifting with colleagues, friends or family.  Lots of people love it, and lots of people loathe it.  By donating to our Secret Santa appeal instead, and becoming an Aberlour Secret Santa, people can make a massive difference to children’s lives this Christmas.

“Scotland’s most vulnerable children aren’t asking Santa for a bike or an iPad this year.  Instead, many may be wishing for their mummy to be safe, or to spend Christmas day in their own home. You can help make this a reality by becoming an Aberlour Secret Santa this Christmas.”

Research shows that Christmas spending focuses mainly on children, with teenagers having the most spent on them, and the average spend per person on Christmas gifts is increasing. In 2017 the average spend was £381, up by around 4% compared to 2016. Aberlour’s Secret Santa appeal asks people to donate and help vulnerable children across Scotland at Christmas instead.

As little as £15 will allow Aberlour to run a crafting session for vulnerable children and young people, so they too can have festive fun with paints, glue and glitter helping them build relationships with trained expert workers and experience friendship in a safe space. Meanwhile, £75 will help Aberlour provide specialist emotional, practical and therapeutic support to women and children who are or have experienced domestic abuse or trauma.

The Clock is Ticking – stop children suffering this Christmas before it’s too late.

To make a donation please visit www.aberlour.or.uk/secretsanta. To request a Secret Santa beard, please emailfundraising@aberlour.org.uk – details of how to donate and share your #AberlourSecretSanta selfie are on the reverse of the beards.

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