Latest News | 8 December 2020
Virtual Santa to spread festive cheer
Digital agency think3 has used its expertise to help Santa visit Derby families virtually and raise cash for Safe and Sound and Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre in the process.
The firm has helped the Rotary Club of Derby adapt its annual Santa Sleigh and raise much-needed funds for the two charities, who support some of the most vulnerable local young people.
In normal times, the Club Santa Sleigh would visit families in Derby suburbs in return for donations.
Due to the pandemic, such close contact may not be possible even in December, but organisers were determined not to disappoint children who traditionally enjoy seeing and meeting Santa in the approach to Christmas.
Thanks to the expertise think3, families across the county and beyond can visit derbysanta.co.uk to book a personalised letter from Santa sent by e-mail or post or a personalised recorded video from Santa.
Families will be asked to donate money for the Santa experiences with all money raised being split between the two charities.
Safe and Sound supports young people across Derbyshire who are victims of or at risk of child exploitation and Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre has, for the past 125 years, organised seaside holidays for disadvantaged children across the county.
Les Bryan, president of the Rotary Club of Derby, said: “We are very grateful to our members, Think3 and to Safe and Sound and DCHC who have pooled their positivity and creativity to re-imagine the Santa Sleigh for these unprecedented times.”
Safe and Sound chief executive Tracy Harrison said: “We have seen a dramatic rise in the recent months in the number of children and young people targeted and groomed by criminals – particularly online.
“We are therefore extremely grateful that The Rotary Club of Derby have chosen to support us again this Christmas.
“Funds raised will enable us to help and protect many more young people, provide a support lifeline to their families and continue to raise awareness of the dangers facing young people in our local communities.”
Bill Tomlinson, a trustee of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, said “The Rotary Club of Derby’s Santa Sleigh is a much-anticipated event every year and I hope that families will embrace this new initiative.”
For more information, to make a donation or to book a letter or call from Santa, visit derbysanta.co.uk.
