Christmas is, for most of us, a time of great joy. But it is also a hugely expensive season which can be a very worrying time for those suffering economic hardship.

That is why we impore you to support the Telegraph & Argus Children’s Secret Santa Appeal, which we are launching today. We have teamed up with Bradford-based charity the Human Relief Foundation to bring a bit of light into the lives of some of the 37,000 children in the district who live in poverty.

Children still believe in the magic of Christmas, but balancing that against the sheer lack of money can make the festive season a very upsetting and traumatic time for families who simply cannot live up to the dream offered by relentless TV advertising and the increasing commerciality of Christmas.

But we believe that does not mean children should go without. The appeal aims to raise enough money over the next few weeks to be able to provide surprise gifts for children who might be having a less-than-merry time.

The impact of a present for a child to open on Christmas morning cannot be overestimated. And even providing one gift for struggling families would go a long way to alleviating the stress of Christmas.

Please do what you can. If you are planning to have a “Secret Santa” exchange of gifts in your office, why not donate the money to our appeal instead? Hold a raffle, have a sponsored event, stage a coffee morning. Nothing is too small – or too big! – to help us make a difference this Christmas.

Let’s spread some festive cheer and make this the best Christmas we can for as many children as possible.

 

Donate to the Secret Santa appeal