Can you bring a smile to a child accessing our services?
As Christmas approaches, many of us look forward to the excitement of giving gifts and creating special memories with family and loved ones. But for some children and young people across Cheshire and Merseyside, the festive season can be a difficult and uncertain time.
Through our Secret Santa Appeal, Mersey Cares is aiming to bring a moment of magic to children and young people supported by Mersey Care specialist mental health and community services.
Last year your kindness enabled us to purchase 240 gifts for children and young people via our Amazon Wishlist, with £980 gifted in cash donations - creating a special festive moment for the children supported and for the staff who deliver the gift personally.
Whether they are children in care, young carers, or young people accessing mental health services, some of the children and young people supported by our services face challenges that can feel particularly difficult at Christmas time. And against a backdrop of rising living costs, stretched household budgets and increasing financial pressures, even small acts of kindness can help warm a heart.
Our Secret Santa Appeal brings local communities together to make a small but heartfelt difference - and we're so thankful to every person, organisation and festive elf who takes part.
Why our appeal is so special
What makes our Secret Santa Appeal so special is that gifts has been carefully chosen by our Children and Young People's teams who understand what might make their Christmas feel a little brighter. From arts and crafts sets and sensory toys to books, games, toiletries and gift cards, the presents have been chosen with thought and care.
While the gifts themselves are important, they often represent something even more meaningful. They can bring a moment of excitement, help a child feel remembered, and create opportunities for connection between young people and the staff who support them. It's these moments of kindness and human connection that make the appeal so special.
How You Can Give a Gift to a Child
There are two ways to support our appeal.
Buy a Gift from Our Amazon Wish List– By choosing an item from our wishlist, you can ensure that a child receives something they will truly love this Christmas. Next to each gift is the service that has selected it. Once you purchase, the gift will be sent to the service!
Make a Donation If you'd rather make a cash donation, we can use that money to fund further gifts for children in our services. This money can be useful at the end of the appeal to ensure services with fewer gifts donated receive what they need for the children they care for. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a difference.
Teams involved in Secret Santa 2026
This year, a record 14 teams from across Cheshire and Merseyside are taking part in the appeal. They include Children in Care teams, CAMHS services, young carers teams, the Family Nurse Partnership and specialist perinatal services, helping us reach more children, young people and families than ever before.
1. Sefton Children in Care Nursing Team supports some of our most vulnerable children and young people, helping them to overcome challenges and achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes. Many of the children we work with have experienced difficult life circumstances, loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Donated gifts are so much more than presents under a tree; they are a reminder that someone cares, that they are valued, remembered, and deserving of kindness.
2. Knowsley CAMHS offer specialist work with children & young people presenting challenging mental health problems; many residing within disadvantaged communities. These young people will be experiencing one of the most challenging times in their lives.
3. St Helens CYPMHS - At St Helens CYPMHS, we are dedicated to supporting those who are struggling, especially families from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our service provides support for young people up to the age of 18 who have emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties which are causing difficulties in their school, family or social life.
4. Liverpool Children in Care Specilaist Nuring Team - works with some of the city’s most vulnerable children and young people who are looked after by the local authority. We provide health assessments, emotional wellbeing support, health promotion, and advocacy to help ensure children in care have the best possible opportunities to thrive despite often experiencing significant adversity in their lives.
5. Knowsley Looked After Children’s Health Team - supports some of the most vulnerable children and young people, many of these children and young people come into care with very little and have experienced adverse childhood experiences.
6. The Specialist Perinatal Service - we work alongside families in Liverpool & Sefton experiencing mental health difficulties, helping to strengthen relationships, promote wellbeing, and give babies the best possible start in life. Many of the families we support are facing significant financial challenges, some have older children and donations from this wish list will be given directly to those in greatest need.
7. Family Nurse Partnership (FNP)- supports young, first-time teenage parents across Liverpool, helping them during pregnancy and their transition to parenthood to build confidence, strengthen family relationships, and give their children the best possible start in life.
8. St Helens Children in Care Nursing Team supports some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. Many of the children and care leavers we support with may face financial hardship, social isolation, or limited family support, particularly during the festive season.
9. The Carer Engagement Team supports Young Carers across the Mersey Care footprint who care for siblings, parents and other family members with long term physical and mental health conditions.
10. Liverpool Smithdown Children's Walk in centre - we provide nurse led consultations, advice and treatments for illnesses, minor injuries and other health advice and support for children from birth to the age of 15 years 7 days a week
11. Halton CYPMHS - Child and Young People's Mental Health Services - sometimes known as CAMHS - support children and young people up to age 18 with their emotional and mental health and wellbeing.
12. Halton Mental Health Teams in Schools - MHST supports children and young people experiencing emerging mental health difficulties. Christmas can be an exciting but overwhelming time for many families, and a small gift can bring a little joy, comfort and reassurance when it's needed most.
13. Health visiting services - Many of our families have children aged 0-5 years and are experiencing significant hardship. This includes families who are living in temporary accommodation or emergency housing, fleeing domestic abuse and starting over with very limited possessions, seeking asylum and facing financial hardship, social isolation, and uncertainty or living in severe poverty and deprivation.
14. Neurodevelopmental Pathway Team - Children and young people age 0-19 with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties requiring multi‑agency assessment. It can lead to diagnoses of Autism.
Challenging times
We recognise that times remain challenging for many people. The rising cost of everyday essentials continues to affect households across our communities, and we know that many families are carefully considering every pound they spend.
If you're able to spare the cost of a small gift, your generosity could help create a cherished Christmas memory for a child or young person who may otherwise receive very little this festive season.
Every donation helps our teams provide gifts to children and young people who need them most, helping to alleviate some of the pressures experienced at this time of year and ensuring they can experience the joy and excitement that every child deserves at Christmas.
New for 2026 - Our 'Giving Baubles'
We're also delighted to launch our new 'Tree of Kindness' initiative as part of this year's Secret Santa Appeal. Designed for businesses, schools and community groups, it transforms an ordinary Christmas tree into an interactive display of generosity! Our Giving Baubles feature gifts chosen by services for the children, allowing people to simply choose a bauble, buy the gift and become a Secret Santa.
Organisations can request a free Tree of Kindness pack by emailing charity@merseycare.nhs.uk. The pack contains everything needed to create your display, including Giving Baubles (all you need is scissors and string), setup instructions and promotional posters to help inspire others to get involved.
