It's a Wrap! A heartfelt thank you to our Mersey Cares 'Secret Santas'

Over 500 presents were gifted to Mersey Care services 

We'd like to extend our deepest gratitude to the many ‘Secret Santas’ who supported our 2024 Secret Santa Appeal. The 2024  initiative was a heartwarming success, bringing joy, comfort, and a sense of community to children, young people, and families facing difficult circumstances - with over 500 gifts shared across the Mersey Care footprint.

The Mersey Cares Secret Santa Appeal invited people across the region to help us support a child or young person facing challenging circumstances with a Christmas gift to make them feel valued during the festive period. With your help, countless children in care, young carers, first-time teenage parents, and those accessing mental health services have been able to experience the magic of receiving a gift and a moment of festive joy.

Amongst the 500 gifts sent out to services were 289 Amazon wishlist items including toys, puzzles and books as well as baby items, gift cards and comfort items. We also distributed 230 festive selection boxes. Gifts were purchased by members of the public as well as bought by our Mersey Cares team thanks to monetary donations, which reached almost £1,000. 

Impacting lives across the region

Gifts included books, toys, toiletries, and vouchers were selected with thoughtfulness and care by Mersey Care staff to meet the needs of the children they care for and were available for 'Secret Santas' to purchase via our Mersey Cares Wishlist. The gifts were distributed to numerous local services, including Children in Care teams in Knowlsey, Sefton and St Helens; Liverpool Family Nurse Partnership and the Carer Engagement Team, which provides vital assistance to young carers—some of the unsung heroes of our community. These young people care for their siblings, parents, and relatives, often sacrificing their own time and opportunities to ensure their loved ones receive the care they need.

Michael Allcock, team manager for Knowsley Looked After Service who also took part in last year's appeal was thrilled with the gifts bought by kind members of the public. 

"Thank you so much for the donations, They are amazing!," he said.
 
"It was wonderful to hand the presents out. One mum was so grateful for the gifts, it really made her Christmas.
The are four children in the home and knowing they have presents to open is amazing. Our Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Charity, Mersey Cares is amazing. I would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated- you are all special!"
 

Other services we were able to support include Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, Health Visiting Services across Sefton and Hampton Road, Knowsley Resource & Recovery Centre and The Specialist Perinatal Service (Liverpool and Sefton) which received 38 gifts for teenage mothers. Many of the children and young people we've been able to support with a gift face significant challenges, including mental health challenges, financial hardship, and social isolation. 

Shelley Simmons, a Team Leader for St Helen's Children In Care said:

"This year we have received amazon vouchers, books, Lego and worry monsters and selection boxes. Once again, the team were overwhelmed and grateful for all the support they have received with this appeal.  The  St Helen's Children in Care Team also did a collection to contribute to the appeal, as a thank you to the charity for all its support. One of the little boys was given a Lego toy and he was very excited and was jumping up and down. It is lovely to be able to give gifts to children less fortunate and bring a bit of Christmas Cheer. “

Every donation made a difference

Whether you chose a gift or contributed funds to help our team purchase gifts, each gesture has made an impact and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

If you would like to donate to future Secret Santa appeals, our fund is open year-round, so we're ready to buy presents for children and young adults in our local community when needed. Take a look: Secret Santa Appeal Fund