Charity ensures Santa comes to town

The children's charity NSPCC has introduced a new initiative in line with the festive season to raise money.

The charity have announced the 'Letter from Santa' fundraising incentive, where a suggested donation of £5 will allow Father Christmas to send a letter to a child. Adults are able to order a letter online, by telephone or by post where it will be delivered by Rudolph Mail just in time for Christmas.

Each letter is illustrated and personalised with the recipient’s name, age and gender. It includes details about Santa and his helpers’ activities in preparation for the festive season before it is delivered in an illustrated envelope. Special letters are also available for babies’ first Christmases along with other options for older children, as well as  corporate and personal e-cards.

Last year the 'Letter from Santa' initiative was a substantial part of the NSPCC’s Christmas funding drive, as almost 150,000 letters were sent all around the world.

Mary Campbell, an Edinburgh resident, is considering the letters as presents for her nieces and nephew. She said: “It sounds like a nice idea. It’d be nice to give something to charity as well as giving the kids something they’d genuinely like.

“I know charity is supposed to be about giving for the sake of giving, but in real life, for kids, it’s nice to get something back and this seems like an easy, fun way to help. It’s especially nice to give something at Christmas time too. And maybe when the kids are older they’ll be interested in doing what they can to help.”

Eleven year old Kelsey Matheson added: “I wish I’d gotten something like this when I was younger. My mum used to pretend to be Santa but I always knew it was her because she wasn’t good at hiding her handwriting.”

The NSPCC launches a number of campaigns, on both a regional and national level, with the aim of eliminating cruelty to children. One of their most well-established initiatives is the volunteer-staffed children’s helpline, Childline.

The last date for ordering the letters online is 19 December. All proceeds will go directly to the charity.