Santa's Cause

As the festive season approaches, we are reaching out to colleagues to ask for support.

Christmas should be a time of happiness and celebration. Sadly, for many families in the Vale of Glamorgan it can be one of great stress, anxiety, and sadness.

Our Social Services team estimate that each year as many as 1500 children who they support are likely to have nothing waiting for them on Christmas Day unless we are able to do something to help.

Since our Santa’s Cause campaign launched in 2022, we have been able to provide thousands of gifts, providing huge relief for hundreds of families. This is all thanks to the generous contributions from communities in the Vale, and Council staff.

If you would like to get behind this year’s campaign, there are a few ways that you can help:

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Donate money

We do our best to give each child something we know they will love. To do so, each year we ask our Social Services team to tell us what might be on each child’s Christmas list. Financial donations mean that we can shop for exactly what that child wants to find under their Christmas tree.

Anything you can contribute will help give a child a Merry Christmas:

Make a donation

Donate a gift

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, our elves will be busy packing a gift bag for each child that includes something that our Social Services team have told us they like. We have collated a list of some of the most common gifts on Christmas lists this year. If you would like to organise a gift collection, or donate a gift, these can be dropped off in room 3 on floor three at the Civic Offices (follow the posters!)

If you don't have access to the Civic Offices please email santascause@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk to arrange a drop off.

Please note that all gifts must be new, unused and in their original packaging to comply with health and safety regulations - if you have second hand gifts why not consider donating them to the Enfys Reuse shop at the Barry HWRC, or Eto on Holton Road.

Please do not wrap your gift - we provide gifts to familes unwraped so that parents and guardians know what they are gifting their children for Christmas.

If you are donating a gift that requires batteries, please provide these if you can.

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Spread the word

We understand that not everyone will not be in a position to contribute financially to Santa’s Cause.

If you wish to get involved, you can support Santa’s Cause at no cost by sharing the campaign on social media.

We have put together a bank of social media posts and graphics that you can use to spread the word among family and friends.

Santa's Cause toolkit

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Volunteering opportunities

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we will have teams of elves at the Civic Offices to help with gift packing.

If your team are getting behind this year's campaign, tell us what your plans are to fundraise or collect gifts and enter a draw to volunteer with present packing. If you are stuck for ideas, why not partake in our Santa's Cause Fun Run!

Tell us what you are doing

If you have fundraising ideas that you need our support with, email santascause@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

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Santa's Cause Fun Run

Looking for fundraising ideas? Sign up for the Santa's Cause Fun Run! Run, walk or jog a 5k or 2.5k route at Barry Island on 01 December to raise money for Santa's Cause.

After sign up you will recieve a fundraising toolkit to help you with sponsorship.

We are also looking for steward volunteers, and someone who has completed Emergency First Aid at Work training. If you are interested in hearing more about these roles please email santascause@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.