Question 1

What is Glasgow's Spirit of Christmas?

Accepted Answer

Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas is a children’s gift campaign by Cultivating Mindfulness, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) Registration Number SC048634.

You can read more about how it started here; 
Learn more about our main charity here. https://www.cultivatingmindfulness.org.uk/

Question 2

I’d love to get involved, how does it work?

Accepted Answer

If you haven’t already, join our Glasgow’s Spirit of Christmas Community Facebook Group. It can be found here at https://www.facebook.com/groups/613947025394004/

The pinned Announcement / Featured ‘Launch Post’ at the top of our Facebook Community page explains how it all works or you can read this on our public campaign page at:

You’ll also find useful resources here to help with your fundraising;
- https://www.glasgowsspiritofchristmas.org.uk/resources

Question 3

How do I donate?

Accepted Answer

Become a secret Santa for a child affected by financial hardship or living in poverty by visiting our website and choose from the ‘PLEDGE A GIFT’ or ‘DONATE CASH’ option here;

Once in the Christmas Portal; follow the steps below to donate a gift;

How To Donate:

Step 1 - Choose to either make a cash donation or a physical gift donation.
Step 2 – To make a cash donation click "I'd like to make a cash donation".
Step 3 – To donate a Gift Made with Love to one of our charity partners click "Make a Pledge" or click "I'd like to make a gift donation".
Step 4 – Choose the number of children in each age group you would like to be a Secret Santa for.
Step 5 – Confirm the donation in your gift basket by checking out and receive an email confirmation with a personal Gift Donation Number.
Step 6 - Visit the Gift Drop-Off page to obtain the details of when and where to deliver your gift(s).
Step 7 - Write your personal Gift Donation Number on the Gift tag of your gift(s) when you drop them off at your chosen charity or children’s organisation so that you can be matched with your chosen children and age group.
Step 8 – Please ensure that you drop your gifts to the right location at the right time in the specified delivery window dates to ensure your allocated child receives your gift)s) in time for Christmas morning.

Question 4

What is a Gift Made With Love?

Accepted Answer

A Gift Made with Love is a personal gift you create that includes a selection of gifts relevant to the child’s age and gender placed in a Christmas Gift Bag. We also gratefully accept selection boxes and treats as well as single items to The Wellbeing Centre, 31 Gavinton Street, Muirend, G44 3EF from 1 – 19 December 2025.

If you join our Facebook group you will be able to look at the "Photos" section to see lots of gift ideas from our members to help and inspire you or download our Secret Santa Guide or Office/Company Secret Santa here;

You should write the age and gender of your chosen child on the gift tag along with your PLEDGE ID number which will help us to sort and allocate your gifts.

Question 5

Can I or my work donate cash instead of gifts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our charity has a dedicated Just Giving page for cash donations including the opportunity to BE A FUNDRAISER for any eventsyou may be considering. You can read more on our Just Giving page here;

Question 6

How do you use the money donated towards your Just Giving campaign?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the total of donations received these will be used towards our campaign objectives such as providing gifts/gift vouchers to fulfil shortfalls of gift referrals and meet the needs of our campaign, increasing our support to our partnering charities and towards meeting the legitimate costs of running the campaign.

Question 7

Can I wrap my gifts in wrapping paper?

Accepted Answer

Each charity partner has to check that gifts are appropriate and for healthand safety purposes. We ask that you do not wrap gifts as they will be unwrapped upon receipt.
Instead, please use a Christmas Gift Bag as detailed above and write the PLEDGE ID number, gender and age group of the child you have chosen on the gift tag.

Question 8

How much should I spend?

Accepted Answer

We don't stipulate an amount that you should spend per child. Creating a Gift Made with Love is entirely at your discretion and we are grateful with whatever you wish to donate.
All we ask is that you put yourself in the child’s shoes and imagine what will make them smile and feel loved and included on Christmas morning.

Please download our Secret Santa Guide or Office Secret Santa for ideas on our main website:

Question 9

Can I give a gift voucher?

Accepted Answer

Experiences such as cinema or restaurant or multi-shop vouchers can be a great choice for teenagers aged 13+ and can be included in your gift.

For younger children we advise that a relevant Gift made with Love would be so much more appreciated as so much thought and care would have gone into creating it, which a child will feel when they open their gift on Christmas morning.

Question 10

How can I find out the shoe or clothing sizes of the child?

Accepted Answer

We would suggest that the children’s clothes be based on age and that adult size small or medium will suit most teenagers 13-16 and small, medium or large for 16 plus ages.

For example, if your chosen child is age 3-5 years we would advise size 4/5 years clothing to allow for growth.

We do not advise donating shoes as these are very specific and sizes and width can vary.

Question 11

Can I donate nearly new toys or clothing?

Accepted Answer

Due to Health and Safety, we are only able to accept new items.

Question 12

Can I include a Christmas card with a message?

Accepted Answer

We kindly request that you do not include any personal messages or Christmas cards for children as they expect their gift to have come from Santa whose role you are kindly stepping in for.

Question 13

Why is the Community Group on Facebook not public?

Accepted Answer

The group was started 11 years ago by our Founder Julie Griffin, solely for family and friends on a private setting and then went viral in a week with thousands of people wanting to join in.

At the time we were unaware that groups exceed 300 members Facebook settings will not allow the settings to be changed back to a public group. This is why we need everyone to share and raise awareness of the work we do to support local children referred to GSOC.

We now also have a public group on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news and events.

Community Facebook page - Join

Public Facebook Page - Follow

Question 14

Can I volunteer to help?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We have many volunteering opportunities for individuals and companies.

You can view our "Volunteer Roles" and submit your interest on our Volunteer website page:

Question 15

How can my office or company get involved?

Accepted Answer

Our Office Secret Santa Guide is available to download directly from our website page at;

Question 16

How can I get support for my charity organization / community group?

Accepted Answer

Please send us an email to glasgowspiritofchristmas@gmail.com if you would like to apply for support. Our charity partners must meet specific criteria and we cannot guarantee that your application will be successful.

Question 17

How can I apply for gifts for my family?

Accepted Answer

We do not accept applications directly from individuals or families at this time. Please take a look at our list of Participating Charities and contact the appropriate organisation who may be able to help you and refer you to us for support.

Question 18

Does the child you have pledged for, get everything that you put in the bag or do the items get shared?

Accepted Answer

The charities generally keep the gifts intact exactly as they have been donated but there are occasions when some gifts are added to in order to make a bigger gift or add a selection box or treats for a child if there isn’t any included. And sometimes certain items have to be removed if they are not appropriate for a certain gender/non or age group.

Question 19

I have lots of nearly new toys and clothing that I’d like to donate?

Accepted Answer

We are only able to accept new items due to health and safety requirements but there are other Facebook groups that you could donate to or offer for free to families who would be very grateful.

Question 20

Can my company/office volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the success of the children's campaign and if we receive the donations we require to fulfill all of the children's referrals we receive,  the we reply on the kindness of volunteers to help us pick, pack and organise the gifts to be distributed to families, please register here:

Question 21

Can my colleagues and I wrap the gifts and just hand them in, myself and my colleague will check them for safety and make sure they are age appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Thank you for your very kind offer of wrapping the gifts, but the staff will have to remove all the lovely wrapping for their own health and safety policies to be adhered to. If you could place your Gifts made with Love inside a Christmas Gift Bag, and add the gender, age and PLEDGE ID number to the tag, it will help us to identify the child it should go.
I have attached the 'Create an Office Secret Santa' guide which may be useful too, hope this helps make it easier and thank you so much for thinking of us and your very kind donations.

Frequently asked questions