Santa Dash fundraising creates a lasting welcome for families
A unique new addition to Halton Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) is helping to create a warm and welcoming environment for children, young people and families, thanks to the passion and fundraising of seven determined Santas.
Alongside securing grant funding through Mersey Cares for a range of creative art workshops, colleagues from Halton CYPMHS were determined to go even further to create opportunities that would enhance wellbeing across their service. Recognising the value of creative and therapeutic activities, staff took part in the Liverpool Santa Dash, raising more than £1,000 through the generosity of supporters and their own fundraising efforts.
A festive fundraiser leads to permanent new face at Thorn Road Clinic
Their festive commitment resulted in a two-day creative workshop led by artist Sarah Gallagher-Hayes from Twigtwisters, where staff, service users and members of the wider CYPMHS community came together to create a striking willow fox sculpture.
Clinic staff were encouraged to get hands-on throughout the process, contributing ideas, learning new skills and adding their own personal touches to the sculpture as it gradually took shape. Alongside the fox, smaller willow butterflies, dragonflies and flowers were also created and can now be seen decorating the railings around the CYPMHS car park.
The sessions demonstrated the powerful impact that creativity can have on wellbeing - and as well as being a lot of fun, the workshops created space for connection, self-expression and reflection, while fostering a strong sense of achievement and pride in the finished artwork.
A welcoming mascot for Thorn Road Clinic
The completed fox will now serve as a welcoming mascot for the service, helping children, young people and families feel comfortable, connected and supported from the moment they arrive. It stands not only as a beautiful piece of artwork, but also as a symbol of the creativity and community spirit that exists throughout Halton CYPMHS.
Sarah Hamlin, Art Psychotherapist at Halton CYPMHS and the driving force behind the project, said:
"Feedback throughout the two days was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants describing the sessions as relaxing, mindful and enjoyable. There was a real sense of pride and achievement as the fox gradually took shape, and many people commented on how impressive the finished sculpture looks. Alongside the large fox sculpture, smaller butterflies, dragonflies and flowers have been made which can be seen along the railings in the CYPMHS car park. The completed artworks aim to make the clinic feel more welcoming, creating a space that reflects the creativity and contributions of the people who use and work within the service."
The project is a powerful example of the lengths that our amazing NHS staff will go to in order to improve experiences for the children and young people they support. Beyond their day-to-day roles, colleagues willingly gave their time and energy to fundraise to create meaningful improvements across their service; opportunities that would not otherwise be possible through traditional funding routes alone.
Thank you once again for the generosity of Santa Dash sponsors and supporters and the dedication and innovation of our Halton CYPMHS staff. It's incredible to see a simple idea transformed into a lasting legacy that will support wellbeing, spark creativity and provide a warm welcome for years to come.
Want to help us do more like this?
With your support, we can do even more to support children and young people accessing mental health and community services. One of the ways you can help us is to take part in a Mersey Cares Fundraising Challenge! We have challenges to suit every level of fitness and ability from walking events and running challenges, to bucket list events like bungee and skydives! You can also choose to fundraise your way -- by setting your own challenge, such as a bake sale or a sponsored silence. You could even follow in the footsteps of Halton NHS staff and take on the Liverpool Santa Dash 2026 - set to be the biggest one so far wit over 11,000 red and blue Santas taking to the streets of Liverpool!
However you choose to support Mersey Cares, you can rest assured that you'll be making such an incredible difference to people accessing our services and often facing challenging circumstances.
Thank you so much for your continued support. If you'd like to chat to a member of the charity team, please get in touch: charity@merseycare.nhs.uk.
