Secret Santa frequently asked questions

Each Christmas, we ask you to become a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child.

Because for them, Christmas is anything but magical. No stockings. No presents. No festive food - maybe no food at all.

Simply donate and you could give the essentials of warm clothes, a hot meal, or a special present just for them.

For vulnerable children this year, their first memories of Christmas could be going to bed hungry, being too cold to sleep, and losing all hope when Santa doesn’t come.

We’re seeing the highest number of children living in poverty ever recorded, with 100,000 more last year than the year before.

You could help them feel the magic of Christmas.

By supporting Action for Children and being a Secret Santa, incredible people like you helped us be there for 687,755 UK children, young people, and families last year, through 372 services. Vulnerable children and families given hope and support, because of your amazing generosity.

Your virtual 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. 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.

*Figure based on audited 2023/24 charity accounts that exclude subsidiary companies like commercial nurseries.

At Action for Children, we have over 2,500 frontline workers supporting children every day. We’ve seen children without a bed sleeping on the floor with just blankets. Families phoning us crying because they have no money to feed their children. It’s relentless. And it doesn’t stop because it’s Christmas.

We’re there when families can’t afford the basics. We top up the gas meter when children are shivering in a freezing house. Put food on the table so children don’t go hungry. Buy a Christmas present when a parent can’t.

Across all our services, we’re a vital lifeline for vulnerable children, young people, and families.

By donating a financial gift to us, we can work with our Services Teams across the UK to understand the specific needs of the children and young people in their care.

Your generosity could enable our Service Teams to select age-appropriate gifts or the necessities that these children are without, such as warm clothing or a hot meal, as we head into winter. This is just one of the ways we’ll do our very best to show these children the magic of Christmas.

We prefer money to physical gifts because:

• We can distribute support where the need is greatest, across the whole of the UK.
• As a large organisation, we have greater buying power and fantastic corporate partnerships that can make your money go further, delivering more support for every £1 you donate.

However, if you would like to donate physical gifts like food, toys, or supplies, we suggest that you contact your local service. They will be able to tell you if donations are needed, and how you can donate them. You can find your local service and their contact details here. 

If gifting on behalf of a loved one, you can add an e-card to the gift in your basket, you can then write a personalised message.

Following your donation, you will receive the e-card that can be printed or accessed through the link on the thank you page. You will also receive a link to access your e-card within the email receipt online.

You can add e-cards to an unlimited number of gifts within a single transaction, however you can only have single gifts OR monthly gifts in your basket, not both types.

You can access your e-card on the thank you page after you have donated. You will also receive a link to access your e-card within the email receipt following your donation. Please check your junk/ spam folder if you cannot see your email.

If you are still unable to find your e-card, please get in touch with our Supporter Services Team on 0300 123 2112 or [email protected].

Please contact our Supporter Services on 0300 123 2112 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) or [email protected] and they will be happy to assist you.