Welcome Break’s dial-a-Santa service returns for a second year following its successful debut in 2021, with the aim of helping those who want to take their children to see the big man but cannot afford to do so. New research carried out on behalf of one of the UK’s leading Motorway Service Area Operator, Welcome Break, shows that despite three in five parents believing it is important to take children to visit Santa, a third of parents cannot afford the ticket price due to the rising cost of living.
A further one in five parents say they cannot afford the travel costs involved. Over half of parents and grandparents will not be taking kids to visit Saint Nicholas this year.
Welcome Break has been busy working with the man himself to provide a service for those unable to get their gift list to Santa before the big day. For one day only, on one of the most popular weekends for visiting Santa and travelling to see family pre-Christmas – Saturday, December 10 – children will be able to video call Father Christmas by dialling 07355983802. Between 9am to 5pm, little ones can share their Christmas wishes and ask Santa any questions they might have about the North Pole, busy elves or even his Christmas Eve plans after he’s made his epic journey across the globe.
John Diviney, CEO at Welcome Break, said: “When we heard that a third of parents and grandparents are unable to afford a grotto visit this year, we knew we had to relaunch our service for a second year running. Due to the huge demand last year, we’ve asked the man himself to take a day out of his busy schedule. We can’t wait to delight children around the country again this year and bring some festive cheer!”
Welcome Break will be hosting lots of other festive activities this year. All sites will have templated letters and addressed envelopes to the big man, and if parents add a stamp and post before Friday, December 9, the Royal Mail will send a response from the North Pole. There will also be festive colouring in sheets and crayons to keep little ones entertained. Each service area will also have a tree and wish tags so children (and big kids!) can write their wishes and add them to the tree or take them home.
