The Most Precious Gift: Mersey Cares Secret Santa Gift Appeal 2024

Help Bring Joy to Child This Christmas

As the festive season draws near, many of us eagerly anticipate the joy and magic that Christmas brings. Yet for some children and young people, especially those in care or facing tough circumstances, this time of year can be challenging. That's why Mersey Cares, the dedicated charity of  Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Secret Santa Appeal. With your support, we can ensure that more children and young people can experience the joy of receiving a gift this Christmas.

Join us in making a difference! 

How You Can Give a Gift to a Child

From 1 November until 13 December you can give a precious gift to a child using our services. There are two main ways to get involved:

1. Buy a Gift from Our Amazon Wish List – Our children's services teams have carefully selected gifts that are meaningful and special. By choosing an item from one of these wish lists, you can ensure that a child receives something they will truly love this Christmas.
2. Make a Donation  Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. Your donations will be used to purchase gifts for children in our services.

Supporting children using Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust services 

Last year, thanks to the overwhelming kindness of our supporters were able to support children and young people with Christmas gifts and vouchers across five areas of the Mersey Care Foundation Trust: CAMHS (Knowsley), St Helen’s Looked After Children Team, the Hampton Road Health Visiting Service, Smithdown Children's Walk-in Centre, and the Carer Engagement Team at Hollins Park. Over 200 gifts were generously donated, including colouring books, sticker books, selection boxes, puzzles, slime, and a wonderful assortment of toys for imaginative play and creativity, as well as toys for babies. We also received a variety of vouchers, including Costa and Amazon gift cards.

There are more children who need our help this year

This year we want to enable even more children to experience feelings of joy and warmth at Christmas time. We want the 2024 Secret Santa Appeal to be bigger and better than ever.

Joanne Watson, Strategic Charity Lead for Mersey Cares, said:

"Our appeal focuses on the children across Cheshire and Merseyside who, without help, might not receive much this Christmas. These are children who deserve to feel the same magic of the season as any other child. Last year our campaign was a great success and this year we want to make it even better, with even more of our children's services able to receive gifts. By participating in our Secret Santa Appeal, you can help us put smiles on their faces and let them know they are cared for and appreciated."

Services taking part for 2024 include:

Family Nurses  - working with first time teenage parents across Liverpool, helping them during pregnancy and their transition to parenthood up until their infant turns aged two years

Sefton Children in Care Nursing Team  - support looked after children and young people in Sefton from the ages of 4-18 years old.

The Carer Engagement Team  - supports young carers across the Mersey Care footprint who care for siblings, parents and other family members with long term physical and mental health conditions.

Knowsley CAMHS - offer specialist work with children & young people presenting challenging mental health problems; many residing within disadvantaged communities. These young people will be experiencing one of the most challenging times in their lives. 

The Specialist Perinatal Service - provides assessment and support for women across Cheshire and Merseyside, many living in disadvantaged communities, experiencing, or are at risk of, significant mental ill health during pregnancy and up to two years post-partum 

Knowsley Children in Care  - supports some of the most vulnerable children and young people, many of these children and young people come into care with very little and have experienced adverse childhood experiences.

"Being able to provide with a gift at Christmas time is a little something we can give back". 

The Hampton Road Health Visiting service - provides support and guidance to parents through the early years of their parenting journey, helping parents to develop a close and loving relationship with their child. Our health visitors provide a holistic approach to support parents in the promotion of health and wellbeing of all pre-school aged children in Southport.

The Sefton Health Visiting Service - deliver the healthy child programme to all children aged 0-5 in Sefton.

"We work with a range of families and offer additional support to those families in need. Supporting this cause means that we can distribute gifts to families who are not able to buy any themselves this Christmas."

The St Helens Children in Care team - supports some of the most vulnerable children aged 0-18 years 

Whether you choose to donate or purchase a gift, your contribution will mean the world to a child who might otherwise go without. Let’s come together to show these children they are valued, loved, and not forgotten this Christmas. 

St Helens CYPMHS

We invite you to join us in making a difference for children, young people, and families facing mental health challenges. At St Helens Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS), we are dedicated to supporting those who are struggling, especially families from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Warrington CYPMHS

Children and young people's mental health service with a specialist provision for children on the edge of care and looked after children who won't be with family for Christmas.

Thank you for your continued support 💙