Santa’s Little Stars 2026 campaign launched to help provide Christmas gifts

Some of the gifts donated in 2024

Shropshire-based charity Little Stars has launched this year’s Santa’s Little Stars campaign, running from Saturday 24 October to Friday 4 December [2026], in partnership with The Darwin shopping centre in Shrewsbury. The campaign aims to provide Christmas gifts to children and pregnant women across the county who might otherwise go without.

Since launching in 2020, Santa’s Little Stars has grown into a truly community-led initiative. Thanks to the generosity of local residents, businesses and organisations, the campaign has wrapped more than 8,100 presents, supported 2,178 children, and worked alongside 40 organisations to ensure gifts reach those who need them most.

Last year was the campaign’s biggest year to date, helping more than 700 children across Shropshire. With many families continuing to face financial pressures, the charity expects demand for support to remain high this Christmas.

This year’s tagline, “Every Child Deserves a Little Christmas Magic,” reflects exactly what Little Stars hopes to achieve: ensuring that every child they support, from birth to age 17, experiences the excitement and joy of receiving a gift on Christmas morning. Little Stars also extends this care to pregnant women, providing them with a thoughtful gift at Christmas too.

Working closely with referral partners, Little Stars identifies families most in need to make sure no child is left without a gift. Last year, thanks to incredible community support, the charity was able to provide more than one present to many children, creating a little extra Christmas magic for families across the county.

Members of the public can help create a little Christmas magic by donating new, unwrapped toys in their original packaging. Gifts can be dropped off at collection points in The Darwin outside the Collective, The Entertainer, Home Bargains and Clarks Shoes.
Donations can also be taken to the Little Stars Charity Shop on the lower level of The Darwin during its opening hours.

Those who prefer to give financially can donate through the dedicated Santa’s Little Stars JustGiving page at JustGiving link. Every contribution will support the campaign and help ensure that no eligible referral goes unanswered.

Leanne Simcoe, founder and CEO of Little Stars, said:

“Christmas should be magical for every child. With your support, we can make sure children in our community don’t miss out on receiving a gift. Together, we can spread a little Christmas magic across Shropshire.”

The campaign is once again supported by The Darwin shopping centre, which plays a key role in hosting collection points and encouraging the community to get involved.

Kevin Lockwood, centre manager at The Darwin, said:

“We’re delighted to once again support Santa’s Little Stars and help bring this wonderful campaign to the heart of our community. Year after year, we see the incredible generosity of our shoppers, retailers and local organisations, and it’s inspiring to know that every donation can make a real difference to a child and family at Christmas. The campaign’s impact continues to grow, and we’re proud to provide collection points throughout The Darwin to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved. Together, we can help ensure more children across Shropshire experience the magic of Christmas morning.”

For more information, visit www.littlestarscharity.org or contact corporate@littlestarscharity.org.