Help spread festive magic with NSPCC’s Letter from Santa

Angel, Karissa age 9, Martha age 7 and Peanut help launch the NSPCC's Letter from Santa

With Christmas just around the corner, the NSPCC’s 2011 Letter from Santa fundraising campaign is off to a festive start.
 
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 20,565 letters were sent to children across the North West, helping to raise 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.
 
Louise Stimson, NSPCC Head of local fundraising in the North West, 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.”
 
In December 2010 ChildLine counsellors answered 50,700 contacts from children and young people via telephone, email and 1-2-1 chats, 1, 194 of which were dealt with by volunteers at the local Manchester ChildLine base, located on Sickle Street in the heat of the city. The main issues that young people contacted the service about during December were family relationship issues (14%), bullying (10%) and physical abuse (6%).
 
Ms Stimson 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. Orders can be received until 16 December and letters will be sent out between 28 November and 19 December.