Become a Secret Santa this St Nicholas Day, 6th December
On St Nicholas Day, 6th December, some churches in the UK, and across the globe, commemorate St Nicholas of Myra – a 4th Century Bishop from Turkey – whose journey from Saint to Santa began with his legend for secret gift giving to those in need.
The Rt. Revd. Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall, has written the Archbishop of York's Advent Book Stick with Love, and the reflection today speaks of St Nicholas, and the generosity of giving secretly to those in need.
As one of the founding trustees of Acts 435, the Rt. Revd. Arun Arora said: “St Nicholas Day is an opportunity to reclaim the more secretive aspect of giving and the invitation for each of us to be a Secret Santa – perhaps through random acts of kindness and giving anonymously to people we know or through organised charities such as Acts 435.
“While still a young man Nicholas became known for his generosity to those in need, for rescuing sailors in the Aegean sea, and his concern for the destitute. His Saints Day is marked across the globe each year in different ways, not least in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and northern France, who on 6th December celebrate the festival of Sinter Klass.
“Here in the UK at a time when so many people are in need, Acts 435 puts people who want to help in touch with people who are in need, through a network of churches and local charities. Acts 435 enables virtual, online giving for specific needs. 100% of what is donated via Acts 435 goes directly to those in need. My encouragement to everyone on December 6th, and for this Christmas, is simply: “Be more St Nic!”
In many countries St Nicholas Day is celebrated by filling empty shoes with sweets, nuts and fruit but a gift through Acts 435 can make a bigger difference, helping someone in a crisis or in poverty with a specific item that they so desperately need.
Could you be "more St Nic" and give anonymously towards the specific need of someone who is in need today?
Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 11 days
£200 needed for electric cooker
D is a young mum who is registered disabled and has an 18-week-old baby. She has recently been offered and accepted a flat after being on the homeless register for 18 months. She is incredibly grateful to have secured a home for herself and her baby, but currently has no cooker. D receives Universal Credit but due to moving costs is unable to afford to buy a cooker. Please can you help this young family so they can enjoy proper hot meals?
£200 needed for specialist transport costs
This is for a very isolated gentleman who is disabled and largely housebound. His only social interaction is a weekly visit to a local cafe for a pensioner's lunch. However, he is often unable to fund the wheel chair accessible transport he requires to be able to make this outing, which is why he is requesting help towards transport costs to ensure he does not lose this vital social interaction, as we work on a longer-term solution. This funding would cover 6 weeks' worth of journeys.
£165 needed for a dining table and chairs
E and her 7 year old daughter became refugees in January 2025 and have moved between several temporary accommodations since arriving in the UK. They are currently living in temporary housing with very few furnishings. There is no table or chairs in their accommodation, so they eat all their meals on the floor. A dining table and chairs would provide a safe, comfortable place to eat together and give her daughter somewhere suitable to sit, study and complete schoolwork.
£150 needed for a SIM card top-up, food and travel
Mr S is a single client who has been in the UK for over 25 years. He suffers from severe health issues and was referred to us by a hospital. Unfortunately because of his immigration issues he is barred from accessing housing and welfare support, and he has been homeless for a while. This is having a detrimental impact on his health and his ability to engage with his immigration case. Mr S is destitute so this money for food will help to prevent the further deterioration of his health. The travel money is so he can attend appointments with his immigration adviser and at the hospital, and the mobile phone top up is so he can communicate with his GP and the other professionals involved with his care.
£200 needed for a van to move home
E needs help towards moving costs as she has got leukaemia and she is getting worse. Her support system and all of her family and help are in Lewes so she needs a van so she can move closer to them. But she cannot afford this herself. She has found a home swap which is in the process of going through. Please can you help with the moving costs? She will be very grateful.
£200 needed for a new electric cooker
A new electric cooker is needed for a family of parents with three young children, two with additional needs. The family relies on Dad's income and family benefits. The parents love and meet their children’s basic needs, and have accessed appropriate support services to address their financial debt and are working proactively to improve their situation. A replacement cooker would help the family to continue to provide a stable, nurturing and nutritious environment. Can you help this lovely family?
£200 needed for a new gas cooker
Both our client and their partner suffer from mental health issues. Our client has just spent two months in hospital with their mental health. Our client also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from a previous abusive relationship and Fibromyalgia. This is a low income family on benefits. They have two children who both have special needs. One with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the other with Autism. Their old second hand gas cooker has been condemned by a Gas Safe engineer and needs replacing.
£200 needed for groceries and toiletries
Can you assist this client in dire need? The client is an Afghan refugee and widow with five children at home. Due to an error filing her immigration papers by four days, her benefits have stopped completely since the end of March. The process to re-instate the visa and benefits is slow and in the meantime she has no income and is relying on foodbanks. Can you help this family in need with groceries and toiletries?
£150 needed for a monthly travel pass
J is destitute and has just moved into a short term hosting placement before she moves in Home Office accommodation pending an appeal on her asylum claim. She has recently been released from detention and is traumatised from it, and finds that travelling outside around London really helps with her mental health. She has very little to live on, so if she could buy a travel card, this would mean the little money she has doesn't all go on travel.