Santa's Cause

Donate money

As always, our social workers will let us know what the children are hoping Santa will bring. Financial donations mean that we can do our very best to create individual gift bags tailored to their wishes to keep the magic of Christmas alive. 

Anything you can contribute will help give a child a Merry Christmas:

Make a donation 

Volunteering and fundraising

Last year in true vale spirit, teams across the Council pulled together to organise cake sales, Christmas fayres, sponsored runs, and more, all to raise money for Santa's Cause.

This year, we’re inviting you to be part of the magic again by planning, organising, and hosting your own fundraising events.

Whether it’s a bake sale, Christmas jumper day, fun run, raffle, or any other kind of fundraising, every event helps raise funds to make Christmas brighter for those who need it most.

Did you know you have one volunteering day a year to use as part of your contract? Why not use your volunteering day to fundraise for Santa's Cause! Take a look at the Vale of Glamorgan Council Corporate Employee Volunteer Policy and if you wish to use your volunteering day for Santa's Cause ask your manager and complete the online form to tell us what you are doing.

We're here to help! We can spread the word about your event, and if you have any questions or would like some suggestions, just email us at santascause@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk and we'll do our best to support you.

Don't forget to tell us what your plans are to fundraise or collect gifts so that we can give you a shout out and pass on our thanks:

Tell us what you are doing

The Santa's Cause Fun Run is back for 2025!

After raising over £800 last year through internal staff efforts, this year’s event at Barry Island is opening up to the public to make an even bigger impact. Every pound raised goes directly to Santa’s Cause, our campaign to buy Christmas gifts for children supported by our social services that may otherwise go without.

Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your support will help bring joy to families who need it most this Christmas.

• Saturday 29 November
• Meet at 10:45am for an 11am start
• Barry Island - meeting location details will be shared with participants closer to the day

Sign up to take part in the fun run or sign up to volunteer.

Spread the word

We understand that not everyone will not be in a position to contribute financially to Santa’s Cause.

If you wish to get involved, you can support Santa’s Cause at no cost by sharing the campaign on social media.

We have put together a bank of social media posts and graphics that you can use to spread the word among family and friends.

Santa's Cause toolkit

Donate a gift

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we’ll be packing a gift bag for each child, filled with something our Social Services team know they will enjoy. Now in our third year of the campaign, we have a good idea of the items we need most. If you’d prefer to donate a gift rather than money, we’d be grateful if you could check our Christmas wish list before heading to the shops.

If you would like to organise a gift collection, or donate a gift, please email transformationteam@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk to arrange the drop off at the Civic Offices.

Please note:

• All gifts must be new, unused and in their original packaging to comply with health and safety regulations - if you have second hand gifts why not consider donating them to the Enfys Reuse shop at the Barry HWRC, or Eto on Holton Road.
• Please do not wrap your gift - we provide gifts to familes unwraped so that parents and guardians know what they are gifting their children for Christmas.
• If you are donating a gift that requires batteries, please provide these if you can.