A Sleigh Full of Hope

Community Pulls Together to Deliver Santa and Support Children in Crossfire

Young people, community partners, and emergency services came together this December to deliver Santa to the Guildhall in spectacular style raising vital funds for Children in Crossfire and spreading festive cheer across Derry/Londonderry.

On the 20th of December, Santa arrived to delighted crowds at Ebrington Square before cheering on participants as they pulled his specially built sleigh across the Peace Bridge and on to the Guildhall. The event formed part of Children in Crossfire’s annual Santa Sit Out and showcased the power of partnership and youth-led community action.

In the weeks leading up to the event, young people worked alongside Shantallow Community Association, Teamworks, and the PSNI to transform a trailer into a purpose-built sleigh fit for Santa himself. Along the way, participants developed new practical skills, learned about teamwork and responsibility, and took part in important conversations around the impact of anti-social behaviour on emergency services.

The event also provided an opportunity for young people to hear directly from Richard Moore, founder of Children in Crossfire, who shared his inspiring personal journey and the story behind the charity’s work supporting vulnerable children affected by conflict around the world.

Following the festive celebrations, the sleigh trailer will continue to benefit the local community. It will be repurposed for community clean-ups, maintenance work, and other local projects, with Apex, Ark, and Radius Housing each using the resource as part of their ongoing community programmes in the New Year.

The Ballyarnett Neighbourhood Policing Team, PSNI, praised the collaborative effort, highlighting the importance of proactive partnership working and the value of investing in resources that continue to support communities beyond a single event.

Melanie Rintoul, Housing for All Programme Manager at Radius Housing, said:

“This is a brilliant example of the local community coming together to celebrate Christmas in a unique and fun way – building local good relations and raising awareness and money for a great cause in the process.”

The Santa Pull Sleigh event was supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Housing for All Shared Housing Programme, which aims to strengthen community relations and contribute to a more united and shared society.

Radius Housing, Apex, and Choice Housing supported the project through Shared Housing Programme funding, as part of wider investment in local developments and associated Good Relations Plans. These plans include ‘Bridging’ events designed to promote health and wellbeing, education and training, and community development.

The success of the Santa Pull Sleigh highlights what can be achieved when young people, community organisations, housing providers, and emergency services pull together, creating festive fun with a lasting positive impact.