Learn About Our Charity
The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal is a registered charity that raises money throughout the year to help the city’s most disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas time.
Every year, more and more children in Bristol face a bleak Christmas. It is one of the UK’s most prosperous cities but shockingly has the highest proportion of young people in poverty in the South West. Lawrence Hill is one of the UK’s poorest areas with 60% of children in poverty
Our volunteers work throughout the year to raise a total of £82,500 through a gala dinner, carol concert and other events. Through the generosity of individuals, schools, organisations and businesses, we are able to help a total of 1,650 of the city’s children who are most in need. These vouchers are administered by Bristol City Council. This allows us to give each child a £15 voucher for gifts or clothing and a £35 voucher for food.
This year, more than ever, we need your support to help children in Bristol.
Upcoming Events
Gala Dinner 2026
We are pleased to announce our fabulous Gala dinner is back on again for 2026!…
Santa’s Sleigh 2025
Join us for our 2025 Santa’s Sleigh event, every year this event is popular and…
Carol Concert 2025
Our 2024 Christmas Carol Concert had a fantastic turnout, thank you to all who attended…
Recent Updates & News
Meet Our 2025 Carol Concert Compere: The Wonderful Lisa Cadd
We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Lord Mayor of Bristol Children’s Appeal Carol Concert…
Bristol Businesses Support the 2025 Christmas Toy Drive
The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children’s Appeal is once again calling on local businesses to…
Can You Support us with our 2025 Toy drive?
Join Our Christmas Toy Drive and Spread Joy to Children in Need! Our toy drive…
Social Media
Mark your calendars, Bristol! The Santa Express is rolling back into the city on Thursday 10th December at 4pm.
Starting at Downs Water Tower and winding through the city centre, this is the moment our streets come alive with lights, laughter, and pure Christmas magic. It's the crowd favourite for a reason, and we can't wait to bring our communities together again for an evening that reminds us what the season is really about.
Grab the family, wrap up warm, and come line the streets with us. Bristol looking after its own, one festive night at a time.
Tag someone who needs a bit of Christmas magic this year, and we'll see you on the streets! ... See MoreSee Less
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The Bristol Toy Drive is back for Christmas 2026!
Last year, this city showed exactly what it's made of. Businesses rallied their teams and customers, and together we made sure kids right across Bristol had toys under the tree and smiles on Christmas morning.
Now we're doing it again, and we're aiming bigger.
The graphic says it plainly: Bristol's children need Bristol's businesses. Whether you're rallying your team, getting your customers involved, or just want to be part of something that matters, this is your moment to step in.
How it works: pick up a new, unwrapped toy, drop it at one of our collection points. Simple as that. One drop-off, one real difference for a Bristol family this Christmas.
Collection points launching soon, watch this space. Let's make this the biggest year yet. ... See MoreSee Less
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It's back! The Bristol Toy Drive returns for Christmas 2026, and we cannot wait to see this city show up again.
Last year was something special. Local businesses rallied their teams, their customers, and their networks, and together we reached children right across Bristol who might otherwise have gone without. Toys under trees. Smiles on Christmas morning. That's what this city built together.
This year, we're doing it all again, and bigger.
Here's how you can be part of it: pick up a new, unwrapped toy and drop it at one of our collection points. That's it. One simple action from you turns into a real, tangible difference for a Bristol family this Christmas.
Whether you're a business rallying your team, a school getting the kids involved, or a resident popping a toy in on your way home from work, every single drop-off matters. This is Bristol looking after its own, one toy at a time.
Collection points are launching soon, so watch this space. Let's make Christmas 2026 the biggest year yet. ... See MoreSee Less
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Candlelight, carols and the whole city coming together, that's what Christmas in Bristol looks like.
Save the date: our Carol Concert returns on Monday, 7th December. It's one of our favourite nights of the year, a chance for Bristol to come together and help make sure every local child gets the Christmas they deserve.
Full details are coming soon, so follow along to be the first to know when they open. We'd love to see you there. ... See MoreSee Less
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Santa Express is back and rolling through Bristol's streets again this year!
Mark your calendars for 10th December 2026, when our volunteers, elves and Santa himself take to the city to spread a bit of festive magic for everyone to enjoy.
This is one of our favourite traditions all year. It's community at its warmest: neighbours, families and friends gathering together to bring some Christmas cheer to the streets of Bristol.
Keep your eyes peeled for Santa's route closer to the date. We can't wait to see you there! ... See MoreSee Less
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