Charity wants to do a "meet Santa" - prezzie ideas / red tape / grottos? :)

uropachild

Hullo!

I am organising a meet santa event to take place at a sale of baby items in December. It's not something i have ever done before and i've not taken my kids to one either (too young), so i've not really got any idea of what they are like.

Could anyone please tell me...

1. What kind of presents do the kids usually get, and where would you get them from? Do companies ever donate little presents when it's for charity?

2. What kind of red tape / procedure is there to go by - health and safety, CRB checks on Santa etc?

3. Where would i find a grotto without breaking the bank? Can you just make something out of a gazebo and fairy lights?

Many thanks in advice for all wisdoms on the subject!!

Savvy_Sue

While it's not a legal necessity, I'd advise you to find a Santa who has had a CRB check, BUT I don't think you'd be able to get one done yourself and you can't completely rely on seeing Santa's copy of the disclosure sent to him.

So I'd say that you need to do this through a reliable contact, IYSWIM.

I'd start by asking others involved with the Sale - have they done this before, and if so who did they use?

Do they know who 'does' Santa at the local nursery or primary school, and is he recommended?

Actually, taking a step back, where are you getting your Santa suit from? If that's from the local nursery or primary school, definitely worth asking who usually wears it!

As for the grotto, I used to make my own. Netting and starry fabrics to cover the walls, red velvet throw on Santa's chair etc. But you need to do a risk assessment: I now get the heeby jeebies when I see fairy lights trailing across floors and all mixed up with flimsy fabrics, and while this doesn't often happen in Santa's grotto the addition of candles and nightlights to add atmosphere just looks like an accident waiting to happen! If you have a small room you can use, that's great, but if you have to screen an area off you need to make sure it's not going to fall over!

Do you have a Scrapstore near you? That's where the fabric for 'my' grotto came from ... there was some white and some red felt fabric, yards of the stuff, from which shapes had been cut off, leaving us with a lacy effect.

As for presents, I'd say it depends what you're charging: you have to keep cost low enough to make a profit, but without looking as if you're profiteering even if it is for charity! And you have to know your area and your customers: I think we used to charge £1 (my lads are all over 18 now!) but even that was a stretch for larger families at our school.

One thing we did was take polaroid photos if people paid extra, of course you could do digital these days, and print them off on the spot, BUT bear in mind that you need to show people that you've deleted photos they are not buying, at least IMO.

texranger

some local businesses may help with prezzies just ask around.

I was involved in a local heritage railway where we ran santa specials where santa would drive the train and then give a bag of sweets to the kids which a local cash and carry donated. even the adults got something. 2 local bakeries donated sweet mince pies, which as its normally cold in the 2 weekends before christmas these were heated up in a microwavew intime for the train to return, soi the kids got sweets and the adults got a warm mince pie. anything left would be shared between the volunteers.
so businesses will help if you ask nicely.

uropachild

Thanks for your replies! All really useful info! xxx

Owain_Moneysaver

A pop-up gazebo can make a nice grotto frame and they're probably being reduced around now.

Budget for drycleaning the Santa suit which probably hasn't been washed since last year and has 11-month-dried-in fanta stains.

Children shouldn't sit on Santa's knee and always have to be chaperoned by Parent.

Santa has to always be accompanied by an Elf who is his witness in case of allegations.

Keep a spare beard or two handy in case of pulling accidents.

texranger

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

A pop-up gazebo can make a nice grotto frame and they're probably being reduced around now.

Budget for drycleaning the Santa suit which probably hasn't been washed since last year and has 11-month-dried-in fanta stains.

Children shouldn't sit on Santa's knee and always have to be chaperoned by Parent.

Santa has to always be accompanied by an Elf who is his witness in case of allegations.

Keep a spare beard or two handy in case of pulling accidents.

Also another vital thing if you are wearing santa beards is a bottle of water as you will have a dry throat.