A children’s charity is hoping to spread some festive cheer this Christmas by offering socially-distanced doorstop visits from Santa and his elves.

Spurgeons would like people to nominate families on Sheppey and in Sittingbourne who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic to receive the special visit in the run up to December 25.

The charity runs the family services across the Island’s three jails and works with prisoners to keep their family ties.

Lisa Langworthy, Spurgeons’ family services manager for Sheppey’s prisons, said: “This year, due to Covid-19, many families are finding the festive period more difficult than ever. We hope to spread a bit of festive cheer to those families.”

She added: “We’ve got 50 spaces for nominations. We’ve had a few in so far, we’ve also had a couple of heart-wrenching ones including from parents who’ve lost their jobs and want to give their children something special this Christmas, or for children who’ve lost loved ones due to Covid-19 - it’s just really about helping those who are really disadvantaged.”

Lisa said staff would look at each nomination the charity received in its own merit and choose those who were genuinely in need.

She added: “All of this will be socially-distanced. We’ll be two-metres away from those we visit, but we’ll still make it fun. The children will also get a selection box and a gift.

“We’re really excited and can’t wait to see smiles on faces.”

Anyone can be nominated including parents and children in the community, youngsters in supported living homes and adults with learning disabilities.

Email sheppeyvcs@spurgeons.org or call 01795 802195 to request a nomination form. The cut-off date for nominations will be Friday, December 11.

To find out more, visit the ‘HMP Sheppey Cluster Families & Significant Others Support Service’ Facebook page.

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