It’s been such a busy, but amazing year for me i just wanted to take the opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all who continue to support my small charity and to help it grow.
For those of you who don’t know much about me, i started my charity. Charity Secret Santa when i was just about to turn 14.. My Great Grandmother, ( Elsie Richardson) was taken ill, just before Christmas. As a family, Christmas is important to us, to spend valuable time, meet up and just be together. Nan and i were kindred spirits and i grew up with her showing me how to be kind to others, and help people no matter how much or little they have.
When Nan was admitted to the John Radcliffe in Oxford, it was obvious Christmas 2012, was going to be different, and lonely. With my own pocket money i decided to take Christmas to Nan on the Ward. It was when we visited with decorations, gifts and goodies that i noticed lots of other elderly patients on the ward, with no visitors, no cards and no Christmas cheer. IT was at that moment i decided i must do something. With the help of my school i managed to collect some gifts and took them to those people.
Nan’s health deteriorated, and she passed away in march 2013, my family was devastated, and i was left heartbroken. The lady that inspired me my whole life was gone. Shortly after my health began to go downhill. I was diagnosed with M.E and spent time in the hospital and begun my journey living with a Chronic Health Condition. I knew however that i wanted to do something to carry on Nan’s spirit and to keep her with me. That’s when i decided to make a charity in her memory.
In 2013 Charity Secret Santa was officially founded, i begun each year to ask the public for donations of gifts, non perishable food, clothing for premature babies, toys, and essentials to help to spread Christmas Cheer to those in our community, who are ill, away form loved ones, sick, elderly and vulnerable. I also begun to support larger local charities.
There is always someone you can help, giving doesn’t have to cost money
The charity has grown so much since 2012 and to date with the amazing support of people across the world we have handed out over 30,000 gifts, to local hospitals, care homes, charities and individuals. As well as helping the homeless community of Oxford year round with outreach projects and distributing boxes of essential items, clothing and support.
To now, 20128, making Charity Secret Santa a 365 Charity, every day is a giving day, everyday you can always find a way to help someone, and as Nan said there is always someone worse off than you who needs your help. We are currently furnishing our 2nd home for a family who have been given their forever property after being in an emergency refuge.. Every penny, every donation really does make a huge difference.
I have been absolutely honoured to have the charity recognised with some amazing awards and opportunities, including being invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was an amazing day, shared with my mum, that i will treasure for always. I am always inspired when i meet people like myself who have wanted to help others, to hear their stories and share their experience, really does push me to help and strive to do more.
I was honoured with a British Citizens Award at Westminster in 2016, and a Points of Light Award from The Prime Minister Teresa May this year… These are my thank you’s to all the people who continue to support me each year and allow me to help more and more people locally.
I would love to talk to companies and like minded people who would be interested in developing the Charity further, we have great ideas, but with all great ideas, you need people and volunteers to help.
Can you help to share The “Gift of Giving” with me? i would love to hear from you.
Award winning founder of Secret Santa 365, Courtney and her team collects year round donations of gifts and essential items and distributes them to the sick and vulnerable nationwide each year.
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Last Updated: 13th April 2019 by Administrator
What a Year !!!
It’s been such a busy, but amazing year for me i just wanted to take the opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all who continue to support my small charity and to help it grow.
For those of you who don’t know much about me, i started my charity. Charity Secret Santa when i was just about to turn 14.. My Great Grandmother, ( Elsie Richardson) was taken ill, just before Christmas. As a family, Christmas is important to us, to spend valuable time, meet up and just be together. Nan and i were kindred spirits and i grew up with her showing me how to be kind to others, and help people no matter how much or little they have.
When Nan was admitted to the John Radcliffe in Oxford, it was obvious Christmas 2012, was going to be different, and lonely. With my own pocket money i decided to take Christmas to Nan on the Ward. It was when we visited with decorations, gifts and goodies that i noticed lots of other elderly patients on the ward, with no visitors, no cards and no Christmas cheer. IT was at that moment i decided i must do something. With the help of my school i managed to collect some gifts and took them to those people.
Nan’s health deteriorated, and she passed away in march 2013, my family was devastated, and i was left heartbroken. The lady that inspired me my whole life was gone. Shortly after my health began to go downhill. I was diagnosed with M.E and spent time in the hospital and begun my journey living with a Chronic Health Condition. I knew however that i wanted to do something to carry on Nan’s spirit and to keep her with me. That’s when i decided to make a charity in her memory.
In 2013 Charity Secret Santa was officially founded, i begun each year to ask the public for donations of gifts, non perishable food, clothing for premature babies, toys, and essentials to help to spread Christmas Cheer to those in our community, who are ill, away form loved ones, sick, elderly and vulnerable. I also begun to support larger local charities.
The charity has grown so much since 2012 and to date with the amazing support of people across the world we have handed out over 30,000 gifts, to local hospitals, care homes, charities and individuals. As well as helping the homeless community of Oxford year round with outreach projects and distributing boxes of essential items, clothing and support.
To now, 20128, making Charity Secret Santa a 365 Charity, every day is a giving day, everyday you can always find a way to help someone, and as Nan said there is always someone worse off than you who needs your help. We are currently furnishing our 2nd home for a family who have been given their forever property after being in an emergency refuge.. Every penny, every donation really does make a huge difference.
I have been absolutely honoured to have the charity recognised with some amazing awards and opportunities, including being invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was an amazing day, shared with my mum, that i will treasure for always. I am always inspired when i meet people like myself who have wanted to help others, to hear their stories and share their experience, really does push me to help and strive to do more.
I was honoured with a British Citizens Award at Westminster in 2016, and a Points of Light Award from The Prime Minister Teresa May this year… These are my thank you’s to all the people who continue to support me each year and allow me to help more and more people locally.
I would love to talk to companies and like minded people who would be interested in developing the Charity further, we have great ideas, but with all great ideas, you need people and volunteers to help.
Can you help to share The “Gift of Giving” with me? i would love to hear from you.
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