Do you know a blind or partially sighted child that would like to write to Santa and receive a reply in their preferred reading format?
For the last 15 years the elves and fairies at RNIB have been kept busy helping Santa during the festive season. They always enjoy opening the mail and reading about what the children have been up to and the things they would like for Christmas, as well as looking at the pretty artwork that the children send.
The Letter from Santa scheme for 2011 has now closed. Please come back and visit us in September for details of the 2012 scheme.
Letter from Santa 2011
Santa received an amazing total of 380 letters from children in 2011, a new record!
It's lovely that so many blind and partially sighted children around the UK were able to receive a letter from Santa Claus in a format that they can read themselves.
Break down of the reading formats letters were sent out in:
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audio CD (51 per cent)
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large print (28 per cent)
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grade 1 braille (11 per cent)
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email (6 per cent)
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grade 2 braille (4 per cent)
Letter from Santa 2010
Santa received letters from 317 blind and partially sighted children in 2010.
Break down of the reading formats letters were sent out in:
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large print (42 per cent)
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audio CD (37 per cent)
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grade 1 braille (13 per cent)
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grade 2 braille (4 per cent)
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audio tape (3 per cent)
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email (1 per cent).
Breakdown of the languages letters were sent out in:
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English (94 per cent)
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Welsh (6 per cent).
Thank you to British Gas for funding the scheme in 2010.
Letter from Santa 2009
In 2009 Santa received 256 letters from blind and partially sighted children.
Break down of the reading formats letters were sent out in:
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audio CD (45 per cent)
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large print (29 per cent)
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grade 1 braille (17 per cent)
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grade 2 braille (7 per cent)
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audio tape (2 per cent).
Thank you to BSkyB for funding the scheme in 2009.
Responses to the scheme
"This is an amazing service and it really made Jess happy last year to have a personal reply that she could listen to over and over again! Thank you." Parent.
"Santa, your elves must be so magical if they can send letter in large print, audio and braille! Thank you RNIB for this service." Parent.
"Can I thank you on behalf of our Service for the numerous presents that you have sent for our children. We have the pleasure of working with them all year and I know that your beautifully wrapped gifts will be opened with joy and happiness on the 25 December. They get better each year." Will - Coventry.
"Thank you so very much for your letter to Amy. I am sure she will be very happy and excited to hear from you. The big day is drawing near and I am sure you have much to do, as have I, so wishing you a very Merry Christmas." Parent.
"Harmony never used to believe in Santa when she was younger, but she's seen the benefits in the last couple of years. After getting an RNIB letter from Santa last year, she now believes! The only problem is that she assumes if we can't find something suitable, Santa will!" Parent.
"Thankyou very much for sending us the letter from Santa to Charlotte, it has been put into a very special envelope with lots of sensory christmas pictures on the front of it and some special Santa dust inside it to make sure Mummy and Daddy have fun with the vacuum later tomorrow once Grandma and Grandpa have delivered it for santa. This service is wonderful and the letter will help Charlotte to know who Santa is and recognise him when she sees him on Sunday." Grandma.
"We would like to thank you for making our little Grandaughter very happy. Her face lit up and it was a picture! The CD has been played over and over again. She really loves it."
If you would like to share your thoughts on the Letter from Santa scheme please email santa@rnib.org.uk